Disaster Relief

Introduction

In the past few decades, the world has witnessed many large scale disasters that have caused devastation and destruction. These catastrophes have caused enormous social and economic hardships, claiming thousands of lives, and billions of dollars in damages.

When a disaster strikes and the casualties grow, the number of agencies involved in a relief effort increases exponentially. Individuals, corporations, government organizations, and non-profit groups all over the world rush to provide support, however, this support is often disorganized and chaotic.

Many humanitarian organizations work in an effort to help and support the communities affected, delivering items such as food, water, medicine, medical equipment, shelter, sanitation equipment, and other essential non-food items. As humanitarian organizations mobilize and deploy a substantial amount of material, the tasks that need to be carried out are logistical in nature. In many cases, relief items have to be stored and then transported to the affected regions. (Rottkemper, 2011)

The increasing number and complexity of disasters has made specialization and coordination of relief efforts both important and challenging. Many organizations provide humanitarian aid, either in an immediate response to a disaster or in the months that follow. A number of organizations specialize in areas such as camp management, medical care, or water and sanitation. They’re largely independent, with many having their own funding and systems. When specialized and independent organizations combine, they face a series of problems related to coordination. (Jahre, 2010)

Even the most efficient organizations are sometimes unprepared for what is needed after a disaster. Priorities shift from "business as usual" to “disaster response”, and new styles of management, processes, and networks are required to support an effective reaction.