Article ID: | iaor20171501 |
Volume: | 68 |
Issue: | 5 |
Start Page Number: | 533 |
End Page Number: | 543 |
Publication Date: | May 2017 |
Journal: | J Oper Res Soc |
Authors: | Ali Agha, Ince Guven |
Keywords: | behaviour, combinatorial optimization |
Central to humanitarian logistics is the minimization of distress among impacted populations in the aftermath of a disaster. In this paper, we characterize two levels of distress, termed criticality and destitution, with respect to the delay provision of relief items. Delay in provision of a relief item will lead to destitution for a tolerable number of days, beyond which it will lead to criticality. We develop a mixed‐integer goal program that quantifies these two metrics with respect to the number of days without provision of each of a set of relief items. The model determines the allocation of resources and the distribution of available relief items in a manner that minimizes criticality and destitution in affected population segments. The use of the model is demonstrated for the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake in Istanbul, expected to occur by 2030.