Abstract
Central to humanitarian logistics is the minimization of distress among impacted populations in the aftermath of a disaster. In this paper, we characterize two levels of distress, termed criticality and destitution, with respect to the delay provision of relief items. Delay in provision of a relief item will lead to destitution for a tolerable number of days, beyond which it will lead to criticality. We develop a mixed-integer goal program that quantifies these two metrics with respect to the number of days without provision of each of a set of relief items. The model determines the allocation of resources and the distribution of available relief items in a manner that minimizes criticality and destitution in affected population segments. The use of the model is demonstrated for the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake in Istanbul, expected to occur by 2030.
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“Relief material for Jammu & Kashmir lies in neglect on railway platforms.”—The Indian Express, 9-24-2014.
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Ali, A.I., Ince, G. Distress among disaster-affected populations: delay in relief provision. J Oper Res Soc 68, 533–543 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41274-016-0015-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41274-016-0015-4