A Capability Model to Understand In-Field Responses to Natural Disaster Relief in the Developing World

Abstract

Humanitarian logistics has grown as a field of research since 2004 through the impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami (Kovács & Spens, 2011). The literature has focused on the increasing costs of natural disasters in terms of the number of casualties among the affected people and the heavy economic losses. These economic losses come at a time when international instability resulting from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has led to many nations focusing on their own financial plights. As a result, the level of financial support for international aid has significantly decreased (Dabla-Norris, Minoiu, & Zanna, 2011). Many international humanitarian agencies are finding it more difficult to maintain and retain experienced personnel trained in humanitarian logistics and response to natural disasters (Thomas, 2003; Thomas & Kopczak, 2005). A number of national governments of developing countries are taking more responsibility for managing natural disasters in their own countries, utilising the capacity of their local populations (Kent, 2012). Although local populations are proving to be quite capable, particularly as first responders, they often require technical and financial support to respond effectively to natural disasters (Widmer, 2003).