Humanitarian Logistics in Post-Disaster Response: Lessons from the 2018 Earthquake and Tsunami in Palu and Donggala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/logistica.v2i3.678Keywords:
Humanitarian Logistics, Disaster Response, Adaptive Logistics, Indonesia, Supply Chain Resilience, Risk Management, Coordination SystemsAbstract
The increasing frequency of natural disasters highlights the importance of efficient humanitarian logistics in post-disaster response. This study examines the logistics challenges and adaptive responses during the 2018 earthquake and tsunami in Palu and Donggala, Indonesia. Interviews with 10 key stakeholders including national agencies, NGOs, military units, and local volunteers were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: infrastructure vulnerabilities, adaptive logistics strategies, multi-actor coordination, and system improvement. Findings show that damaged infrastructure and inconsistent survivor data significantly delayed aid distribution. However, adaptive responses such as drone mapping, logistics hubs, and helicopter drops mitigated accessibility barriers. Coordination improved in later phases through joint command posts and national logistics platforms. The study emphasizes the need for integrated logistics information systems and community-based preparedness to strengthen supply chain resilience. Limitations include the small sample size and localized scope, suggesting that future research should involve broader comparative studies across different disaster contexts. This research contributes to humanitarian logistics literature by providing grounded insights into the interplay of systemic risk, adaptive response, and governance in a complex disaster setting.
References
Santos LBL, Soares GG, Garg T, Jorge AAS, Londe LR, Reani RT, et al. Vulnerability Analysis in Complex Networks Under a Flood Risk Reduction Point of View. Front Phys. 2023;11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2023.1064122
Bross L, Baumer JH, Voggenreiter I, Wienand I, Fekete A. Public Health Without Water? Emergency Water Supply and Minimum Supply Standards of Hospitals in High-Income Countries Using the Example of Germany and Austria. Water Policy. 2021;23(2):205–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2021.012
Xu W, Li W, Proverbs D, CHEN W. An Evaluation of the Humanitarian Supply Chains in the Event of Flash Flooding. Water. 2023;15(18):3323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183323
Arowosegbe OB, Olutimehin DO, Odunaiya OG, Soyombo OT. Risk Management in Global Supply Chains: Addressing Vulnerabilities in Shipping and Logistics. Int J Manag Entrep Res. 2024;6(3):910–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51594/ijmer.v6i3.962
Warnier M, Alkema V, Comes T, Walle BV d. Humanitarian Access, Interrupted: Dynamic Near Real-Time Network Analytics and Mapping for Reaching Communities in Disaster-Affected Countries. Spectr. 2020;42(3):815–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-020-00582-0
Zain RM, Zahari HM, Azhar NH, Uthrapathe PAA. Humanitarian Logistics in Disaster Preparedness: A Case Study of Monsoon Relief Distribution for Pulau Redang, Terengganu. J Def Manag Soc Sci Humanit. 2023;6(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.58247/jdmssh-2023-0601-02
Roy KC, Hasan S, Mozumder P. A Multilabel Classification Approach to Identify Hurricane‐induced Infrastructure Disruptions Using Social Media Data. Comput-Aided Civ Infrastruct Eng. 2020;35(12):1387–402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mice.12573
Aretoulaki E, Ponis ST, Plakas G. Complementarity, Interoperability, and Level of Integration of Humanitarian Drones With Emerging Digital Technologies: A State-of-the-Art Systematic Literature Review of Mathematical Models. Drones. 2023;7(5):301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7050301
Cheng L, Hertelendy AJ, Hart A, Law LS, Hata R, Nouaime G, et al. Factors Associated With International Humanitarian Aid Appeal for Disasters From 1995 to 2015: A Retrospective Database Study. Plos One. 2023;18(6):e0286472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286472
Romero-Mancilla MS, Hernandez-Ruiz KE, Huerta‐Muñoz DL. A Multiobjective Mathematical Model for a Humanitarian Logistics Multimodal Transportation Problem. J Humanit Logist Supply Chain Manag. 2023;14(3):247–61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-01-2023-0004
Oruc BE, Kara BY. Post-Disaster Assessment Routing Problem. Transp Res Part B Methodol. 2018;116:76–102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2018.08.002
Pamidimukkala A, Sharareh K, Sanjgna K. Impact of Natural Disasters on Construction Projects: Strategies to Prevent Cost and Schedule Overruns in Reconstruction Projects. 2020;49–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3311/CCC2020-054
Toyasaki F, Arıkan E, Silbermayr L, Sigala IF. Disaster Relief Inventory Management: Horizontal Cooperation Between Humanitarian Organizations. Prod Oper Manag. 2017;26(6):1221–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.12661
Hakim RT, Kusumastuti RD. A Model to Determine Relief Warehouse Location in East Jakarta Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Int J Technol. 2018;9(7):1405. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v9i7.1596
Yılmaz Z, Aydemir-Karadag A, Erol S. Finding Optimal Depots and Routes in Sudden-Onset Disasters: An Earthquake Case for Erzincan. Transp J. 2019;58(3):168–96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5325/transportationj.58.3.0168
Salam MA, Khan SA. Lessons From the Humanitarian Disaster Logistics Management. Benchmarking Int J. 2020;27(4):1455–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-04-2019-0165
Klokman VW, Barten DG, Peters NA, Versteegen MG, Wijnands JJ, Osch F v., et al. A Scoping Review of Internal Hospital Crises and Disasters in the Netherlands, 2000–2020. Plos One. 2021;16(4):e0250551. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250551
Maharjan S, Dhakal L, George L, Shrestha B, Coombe H, Bhatta S, et al. Socio-Culturally Adapted Educational Videos Increase Maternal and Newborn Health Knowledge in Pregnant Women and Female Community Health Volunteers in Nepal’s Khotang District. Women Health. 2022;18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057221104297
Shah B, Frederico GF, Kumar V, Garza‐Reyes JA, Kumar A. Guest Editorial: The COVID-19 Impact on Humanitarian Operations: Lessons for Future Disrupting Events. J Humanit Logist Supply Chain Manag. 2022;12(4):473–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-10-2022-132
Zahari HM, Zain R, Ismail A, Zainol NAM, Yaacob S, Nik Ismail Rashed Che Ali. A Framework for Humanitarian Logistics Coordination in Disaster Relief. Iop Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2025;1479(1):012061. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1479/1/012061
Altay N, Kovács G, Spens K. The Evolution of Humanitarian Logistics as a Discipline Through a Crystal Ball. J Humanit Logist Supply Chain Manag. 2021;11(4):577–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-06-2021-0056
Yazdani M, Chatterjee P, Zavadskas EK, Zolfani SH. Integrated AHP–VIKOR for strategic logistics outsourcing decisions under a sustainability perspective. J Clean Prod. 2020;242:118384.
Paton D, Johnston D, Campbell E. Disaster resilience: Building capacity in the face of uncertainty. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2021;57:102160.
Li Y, Yang Y, He W. An integrated information system for effective disaster relief logistics. Comput Ind Eng. 2022;169:108204.
Schiffling S, Hannibal C, Fan Y. A dynamic capabilities view of humanitarian supply chain resilience. Supply Chain Manag Int J. 2020;25(5):577–90.
Wankmüller C. Exploring coordination in humanitarian logistics: A social network perspective. J Humanit Logist Supply Chain Manag. 2021;11(1):79–105.
Jahre M, Kembro J, Adjahossou A, Altay N. Approaches to the management of humanitarian logistics. J Humanit Logist Supply Chain Manag. 2016;6(3):324–48.
Ivanov D, Dolgui A. Low-certainty-need (LCN) supply chains: A new perspective in managing disruption risks and resilience. Int J Prod Res. 2019;57(15–16):5119–36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1521025
