Page 16 - Logistics News June 2016

book review
Humanitarian Logistics
in Asia-Pacific
Two years ago I reviewed a book by Martin Kessler on distribution
of food and medicine in sub-Saharan Africa, published by Haupt
ROBERT DE SOUZA (executive director and
chief executive of the Logistics Institute at
NUS) and Jonas Stumpf (programme director
of the NUS Education Centre for Humanitarian
Logistics) act as editors while another
20 authors, as well as the UNHCR and WFP,
contribute to the 15 chapters.
The topic remains highly relevant in a time
where earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador as
well as internally displaced persons (IDPs)
in Syria and the migrant crisis in Europe are
sad reminders that humanitarian logistics has
become increasingly important.
The editors are of the opinion that in any
long-term development or emergency relief
operation in which goods and services are
sourced and delivered, it is essential that
the right humanitarian supplies reach the
envisaged beneficiaries at the right time in
the right quantities, in the right condition and
at the right supply chain costs. Hence supply
chain management and logistics are deemed
critical for both effectiveness and efficiency of follows with a chapter on the challenges and
the humanitarian response.
Humanitarian Logistics in Asia-Pacific is
divided into four parts with the first part
providing an overview of the current status
14 June 2016 | Logistics News
Publishers, for the Kuehne Foundation. The book this month is
another publication from them, in partnership with the Logistics
Institute of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and
covers humanitarian logistics in Asia-Pacific.
Title: Humanitarian Logistics in Asia-Pacific
Subtitle: Challenges, Opportunities and Perspectives
Editors: Robert de Souza and Jonas Stumpf
Publisher: Haupt Publisher
Edition: 2012
ISBN: 978-3-258-07797-0
Pages: 124-page softcover
Price: €33.37 at www.amazon.com
Reviewed by: Gerard de Villiers
Email: gerard.devilliers@arup.com
of humanitarian logistics in Asia-Pacific.
Four prominent humanitarian organisations
in the field give a review of the challenges
and initiatives. The second part consists
of contributions from academics with
both quantitative analysis and modelling
perspectives while the third part explores
humanitarian operations in Asia-Pacific in
more detail. Relief workers from various
locations share first-hand experiences and
allow the reader insight into lessons learnt
from actual deployment in the field. The final
part covers input from the private sector on
participation in relief work.
Sean Rafter from ‘Save the Children’
kicks off and shares information on the work
that this NGO is doing in Asia. He discusses
the new challenges that humanitarian
organisations face in the delivery of aid and
highlights climate change, urbanisation,
political, social and economic changes.
Jacques Larroude from ‘Plan International’
opportunities in operations in Asia and comes
to the conclusion that logistics bottlenecks
seem to be a recurring major challenge.
Chapter 3 covers the work of the World