Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations

doi:10.1108/09600030710734820

Document Information:
Title:	Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations
Author(s):	Gyöngyi Kovács, (Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration (Hanken), Helsinki, Finland), Karen M. Spens, (Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration (Hanken), Helsinki, Finland)
Citation:	Gyöngyi Kovács, Karen M. Spens, (2007) "Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 37 Iss: 2, pp.99 - 114
Keywords:	Disasters, Emergency measures, Logistics data processing
Article type:	Research paper
DOI:	10.1108/09600030710734820 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Abstract:	Purpose – This paper aims to further the understanding of planning and carrying out logistics operations in disaster relief. Design/methodology/approach – Topical literature review of academic and practitioner journals. Findings – Creates a framework distinguishing between actors, phases, and logistical processes of disaster relief. Drawing parallels of humanitarian logistics and business logistics, the paper discovers and describes the unique characteristics of humanitarian logistics while recognizing the need of humanitarian logistics to learn from business logistics. Research limitations/implications – The paper is conceptual in nature; empirical research is needed to support the framework. The framework sets a research agenda for academics. Practical implications – Useful discussion of the unique characteristics of humanitarian logistics. The framework provides practitioners with a tool for planning and carrying out humanitarian logistics operations. Originality/value – No overarching framework for humanitarian logistics exists in the logistics literature so far. The field of humanitarian logistics has so far received limited attention by logistics academics.