logistics of famine relief, The

Journal of Business Logistics, 1995 by Long, Douglas C, Wood, Donald F

Famines occur not because there is not enough food in the world, but because the food is not where it is needed. Effective logistics is the essence of famine relief because the greatest task in providing aid is getting the food to the people who are starving. The logistics of famine relief are unique for four reasons. First, while such operations can occur anywhere in the world, they often occur in less developed regions, which usually have inadequate infrastructures and are away from major traffic lanes. Second, the consumer of the final product is not the customer of either the supplier or the carrier. Thirdly, the logistics modeling employed should combine elements of both military and commercial applications.

Finally, the political environment makes famine relief different from commercial logistics, especially when the operation is in an emergency situation. Distribution networks must be established quickly, with minimal organizational support. This places a priority on real time communications and transportation assets, whereas commercial operations put more priority on procedures and capital investments.

Relief is foreign intervention into a society with the intention of helping local citizens. How this is conducted can either help or hurt that society. The distribution of "free" food can disrupt existing local agriculture and transportation distribution systems, delaying their development and postponing the area's becoming self-sufficient.

Food relief is a huge industry, moving about $5 billion worth of food in 1991 with significant ramifications on the world's agricultural and transportation industries.(1) There are over 100 major relief agencies worldwide, each with annual budgets over $1 million, and almost every government in the world is involved either as a donor or recipient. CARE participated in no less than 24 emergency relief situations during a recent one-year period, even though they prefer to stay away from emergency operations in favor of development projects.(2) In the 1970s the annual rate of fatalities from droughts was estimated to be over 23,000. Famine-related deaths in the Horn of Africa during the 1980s and early 1990s have been much more severe.(3)

An analytical model for the logistics of famine relief projects would be based on what can best be described as a contingency approach. The supply line should be able to turn on or off at very short notice. The origin and destination of supplies can change quickly. Management controls are designed to anticipate as many such contingencies as possible, and react to the unanticipated events quickly. Whereas many distribution models are suited for repetitious actions, a model for famine relief would emphasize quick reaction capabilities, and efficiencies are gained from flexibility and effective real time communications. Decision criteria would include many variables that defy quantification, such as humanitarian need.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF FAMINE RELIEF

The logistics managers must identify what sort of environment they will be working in, because that will determine the strategic planning required and appropriate operating methods. There are two basic types of famine: environmental and political.

Environmental famines are caused by natural phenomena that result in a lack of food grown or available. Drought is the most obvious cause. Wijkman and Timberlake identified three specific causes of drought: precipitation drought, resulting from lack of rainfall; runoff drought, resulting from low levels of river flow; and aquifer drought, resulting from lack of groundwater.(4) Logistical requirements vary depending on where the water can be located. If aquifers are adequate, drilling machinery can access well water, as they did in 1983 during the Sahelian drought. When local sources of water are exhausted, the logistical task of carrying in water becomes enormous. The alternative would be to move the people to the water, which is extremely disruptive. Sudden disasters such as floods can also result in severely reduced crop yields or loss of water supplies or of roads. Even if famine is not a concern in a disaster, clean water supplies are threatened.

Political famines are more complex and costly because food can be viewed as a weapon. In the most common scenario, an environmental famine is exacerbated by war to prevent the population from dealing with the situation. An army capable of feeding itself is much stronger than an army that cannot. A government that can feed its people has legitimacy, while a government with starving people may encounter food riots and other civil strife. In the extreme, starving people are docile and thus pose no threat to the government. This environment means that the supply pipeline will be controlled by political and military forces, not by inventory cost considerations or transportation schedules, and distribution costs become much higher.

Logistical requirements for refugees are even more complex. Famine victims who are still in their homes have the benefit of local supplies, shelter, and community. Refugees require food, shelter, medicine, clothing, cooking facilities, water, fuel, sanitation, and security. More importantly, they are moving about, so relief workers must either get them to the food, or stop them and bring food to them. Internal refugees, populations uprooted but still within the country, create special political problems for the relief effort. These groups became refugees because they are in political disfavor, and attempts to help them are discouraged.