Question

Some of the most important tools in humanitarian logistics are demand analysis, inventory planning, process standardization, donation management, building partnerships between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, communication and communication tools for tracking and tracing, technology, awareness of cultural and socioeconomic conditions, utilization of local capacity, transportation and documentation and evaluation of experience for future. Read the MIT blog on humanitarian supply chains, "Travel Bans and Stockpiling Can Cripple the Ebola Response Supply Chain," and assess how effectively these tools have been applied on the examples given there. You need to evaluate at-least four of the above tools. If not through the blog, you may also assess the impact of these tools to other humanitarian situations you are familiar with

Answer 1

I'm more familiar with calamity situations like a flood, as I reside in Kerala, where the flood was affected in many areas in 2018. It has created a mass turmoil situation for everyone. All the infrastructures and the public system was being affected in that natural disaster. That was for the first time, I heard about humanitarian logistics. I knew that logistics is used in supply chain management, but how effective it is while using all these tools and principles for disaster relief.

Impact of Humanitarian tools to FLOOD RELIEF MISSION KERALA, 2018

DEMAND ANALYSIS

Demand analysis is to be made by calculating how many people are directly, as well as indirectly affected by this flood. Kerala is a state possessing an estimate of 3.4 crore people. Thus at a time like this flood, there would be much adequate substance as basic needs. There would require an adequate amount of food grains, clothes, buckets, freshwater, etc. Moreover, there should be clarity in how many volunteers is in need.

INVENTORY PLANNING

By inventory, we mean a list of adequate and essential substances that should be available. at the time of a disaster like, flood there would be many adequate things that should be available for the citizens. there will be a huge demand for everything as well as higher scarcity toO. fOR coping up with all this there should be clarity in all the substances that should behold and delivered. this shows how important is inventory management in humanitarian Logistics. the government and many nonprofit organizations may provide adequate substances to these affected ones but sometimes there would be some illegal activities or deeds which would tempt people to exploit this opportunity and make a profit. If effective inventory management is being established this could be avoided.

PROCESS STANDARDISATION

In Humanitarian Logistics, process standardization is a crucial tool. it helps to define The most reliable and accurate practices to be done. There would be many deeds to be done to ensure harmony, and for maintaining it one should be planning it effectively. At the time of this planning, there may arise many alternatives, one should be keen to select the reliable one.

One should choose the best alternative, after analyzing the situation. Also, it should be ensured whether the procedures are done or maintained by all, otherwise, it would be difficult to standardize.

DONATION MANAGEMENT

There would be many individuals, self-help groups and entities who are willing to donate to for the ones who are severely affected. But one thing to note is that whether the donation is being handed over to the rightful ones. If the donation is to be made in the form of money, it is to be transferred to the proper authority. At the time of the flood, most of the monetary donation was handed over to the CHIEF MINISTER'S FLOOD RELIEF ACCOUNT.

Also, some may donate it in the form of food and clothing. Thus, these should be handled and placed in care. these should be handed over to the needful ones in time. Donation management is not only about procuring resources but also maintaining and distributing it properly.