Resilience Lessons from Humanitarian Supply Chains

Due to the increasing frequency and severity of disruptions and disasters around the world, current supply chains of almost every type are experiencing uncertainties, and supply chain resilience capabilities are one of the major concerns for every manager. Humanitarian supply chains are often at the forefront of this. However, the extant literature often keeps them separate from commercial supply chains and focuses more on their differences than similarities. This short-format research work analyses four case studies of recent humanitarian supply chains formed in response to natural and man-made disasters and how these supply chains endure proactive and reactive resilience capabilities. The lessons learned from these disaster responses in resilience will be of great value to supply chain scholars, students, and practitioners.

Murtaza Faruquee  is an Assistant Professor in Operations Management at the University of Nottingham Business School, UK. His research expertise is focused on resilience capabilities. Within the humanitarian supply chain, he is focused on aid operations in man-made disasters.

Sarah Saqib  is working as a Senior Sourcing Administrator at NHS England. She has conducted research on COVID-19 vaccination supply chains. 

Afra Nur Akman  is a Freight Forwarding Operative at Atanak Forwarding Ltd. She has conducted research on post-earthquake operations in Turkey.

MD Shariful Alam  is a Superintendent of Police in Bangladesh. He has overseen aid operations and conducted research on long-term relief for the Rohingya refugee camps.