Logistics in the Context of Humanitarian Operations

In the past decade, logistics in the context of humanitarian operations has more and more moved into the focus of logistics practitioners and academics. While humanitarian organisations have realised that a major part of disaster relief spending can be attributed to logistics and supply chain management activities associated with humanitarian operations, researchers have found that the area of logistics in the context of humanitarian operations gives rise to a number of unique and interesting challenges. This paper is meant as an introduction to the track Humanitarian Logistics at the 8th International Heinz Nixdorf Symposium. A recent natural disaster helps to elaborate the domain humanitarian operations. A number of important definitions are presented. Moreover, some of the specific characteristics and challenges of logistics in the context of humanitarian operations are described.