Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Industrial Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / The SADC region has seen both man-made and natural disasters killing over 90 thousand people and affecting millions in the past 33 years. Most of these deaths were as a result of lack of infrastructure and preparedness. Looking at the challenges for providing relief to victims/evacuees throughout the entire disaster and post-disaster periods in the region, the emphasis of this thesis is on last mile transportation of resources, victims, emergency supplies, aiming to optimize the effectiveness (quick­I response) and efficiency (low-cost) of logistics activities including humanitarian supply chain. A survey was used for data collection. Statistical analysis helped determine the impact of disaster relief chains and lead to the development of a mathematical model that shall equip the region with mechanisms for response and recovery operations. An EXCEL optimization tool was used to find the optimal way of transporting relief in the region in case of a disaster. / PDF Full-text unavailable. Please refer to hard copy for Full-text / M

A arquitetura do Sistema Humanitário Internacional no século XXI está em expansão. Não somente os recursos aportados têm crescido, como também o número de atores envolvidos como doadores, tais como organizações internacionais governamentais e não governamentais. Os países são os maiores provedores de assistência humanitária, e este grupo também apresenta ampliação. Tradicionalmente, os países membros do Comitê de Assistência ao Desenvolvimento, da Organização para Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (DAC/OCDE) são os atores mais antigos do sistema humanitário contemporâneo e os que mais aportam recursos. A literatura recente, contudo, aponta para a emergência de outros países doadores de fora do grupo, que estariam trazendo mudanças na governança internacional do sistema. Os estudos sobre os doadores \"Não DAC\" carecem de dados precisos, sendo, em sua maioria, baseados em estimativas. Esta pesquisa visa a aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre a atuação desses doadores, valendo-se de estatística descritiva de dados primários de organizações multilaterais do sistema humanitário da Organização das Nações Unidas para se poder mais bem compreender o grau de participação financeiro que os doadores \"Não DAC\" agregam ao sistema. Além disso, o estudo apresenta uma análise de como o Brasil age como doador de assistência humanitária internacional. / The architecture of the International Humanitarian System in the 21st century is expanding. Not only the resources contributed have increased, but also the number of actors involved as donors, such as international governmental and non-governmental organizations. Countries are the largest providers of humanitarian assistance, and this group is also expanding. Traditionally, the member countries of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD / DAC) are the primary actors in the contemporary humanitarian system and those who provide the majority of the resources. Recent literature, however, points to the emergence of other donor countries outside the group that might be bringing changes in the international governance of the system. Studies on \"non-DAC\" donors lack accurate data and are mostly based on estimates. This research aims to deepen knowledge about the performance of these donors, using descriptive statistics on primary data from multilateral organizations of the United Nations humanitarian system to better understand the degree of financial participation that \"Non-DAC\" donors add to the system. Furthermore, the study presents an analysis of Brazil\'s actions as a donor of international humanitarian assistance.

This thesis in anthropology investigates how emergency is socially constituted as a named and actionable entity. Specifically, it asks how human values and techno-scientific practices contribute to the constitution of emergency in the context of medical humanitarian intervention. The study considers emergency from an ethnographic perspective, as a group of international medical humanitarian practitioners from the aid group Médecins San Frontières (MSF) come to understand and respond to the 2013 outbreak of armed conflict in South Sudan and the potential for mass starvation among certain groups within that country. Through the method of participant observation, it examines how emergency is understood or constituted at three different conceptual levels: at the level of the individual clinical encounter, the level of population statistics, and the level of political representations of crisis. By extension, it inquires as to how professional formation and moral categories determine appropriate response. The study reveals how values, ethics and conceptions of "the good" are embodied in-yet imperfectly translated through-numerical measures and institutional structures. This reveals a key paradox of medical humanitarianism: that rational, technocratic institutions simultaneously enable and debilitate the goals and means of humanitarian action. This study is based on 11 months of fieldwork (Oct 2013-Sept 2014) with the Amsterdam operational section of MSF. The fieldwork was multi-sited; it included participant observation of MSF activities in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Juba, Leer and Bentiu (South Sudan).

The aim of this research is to highlight both the conceptual and practical factors that constrain attempts to link humanitarian assistance and development aid in political emergencies in Southern Africa by using the case study of Mozambique in the period between 1975-1995. Extensive use and reference to Norwegian relief and development aid during the above-mentioned period is made. Although cross-reference is made to other donor countries such as the Like-minded Group (comprising of Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland) and UN agencies that supported Mozambique's transition from war to peace, the major focus is on Norway as she has traditionally been the sixth largest bilateral donor by the early 1990's and incorporated long-term development priorities in her programs.

This thesis explores the relationship between development, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the military in order to determine both the nature and effects of that relationship, and how the involvement of the military within ODA can be conducted in the most appropriate manner to support development. This study was conducted with regard to the current links between security and development within international relations and concerns that ODA is being drawn from a primarily development role to one that more explicitly supports national foreign and security policy ends instead. This issue is explored by defining development, ODA and the military as separate variables and then employing a grounded theory approach to develop an understanding of the relationship between them. The results of the study show that the involvement of the military within ODA and development may occur throughout the full range of operational contexts in which the military may be employed and can encompass activities throughout the scope of the functions of development. This involvement can in turn create a range of positive and negative impacts upon the conduct of ODA and development as the military serves to moderate the direction and strength of the relationship between the two. From this, the role of the military within ODA is identified as potentially an enabling, implementing and coordinating agency – primarily during times of crisis and conflict. The study then relates this role back to the wider context through considering the management of the military’s role and identifying the policies, parameters and procedures that may help to ensure that this role is conducted in the most appropriate manner for development.

Les problèmes de tournées de véhicules cumulatives avec capacité (CCVRP) sont étudiés dans cette thèse, où la minimisation de la somme des temps d'arrivée reflète mieux les objectifs stratégiques de la logistique humanitaire.Dans le problème de multiples tournées d’un véhicule cumulatif avec capacité (mt-CCSVRP), un seul véhicule est disponible et il peut effectuer plusieurs voyages. Un algorithme du plus court chemin avec contrainte de ressources est proposé pour résoudre ce problème, dans lequel les tournées deviennent des nœuds et les sites sont des ressources. Le réseau est orienté et acyclique en raison des propriétés particulières du mt-CCSVRP.Le problème de multiples tournées de véhicules cumulatives avec capacité (mt-CCVRP) est introduit, où plusieurs véhicules peuvent effectuer multiples voyages. Quatre programmes linéaires en nombre entiers (PLNE) sont proposés pour résoudre le CCVRP. Un PLNE pour le mt-CCVRP est proposé ainsi que trois métaheuristiques : une recherche locale itéré à démarrages multiples (MS-ILS), un algorithme mémétique avec gestion de la population (MA|PM) et une recherche locale évolutive à démarrages multiples (MS-ELS), qui appellent un algorithme de recherche local à voisinages variables (VND). Une méthode split à deux phases permet MA|PM et MS-ELS d'alterner entre deux espaces de solutions.Le problème de tournées de véhicules cumulatif avec capacité et des livraisons indirectes (CCVRP-ID) permet aux sites non visités si leurs demandes sont fournies par un véhicule auxiliaire. Un PLNE et un MS-ELS sont développés / The cumulative capacitated vehicle routing problems (CCVRP) are studied in this thesis, where the minimization of the sum of arrival times better reflects the strategic objectives of humanitarian logistics.In the multitrip cumulative capacitated single-vehicle routing problem (mt-CCSVRP), only one vehicle is available and it can perform multiple trips. An exact resource constrained shortest path algorithm is proposed for this problem, in which trips become nodes and sites are resources. The resulting network is proven to be directed and acyclic due to the special properties of the mt-CCSVRP.The multitrip cumulative capacitated vehicle routing problem (mt-CCVRP) is introduced, where several vehicles can do multiple trips. Four mixed integer linear programs (MILP) are proposed to solve the CCVRP. For the mt-CCVRP a MILP is also given as well as three metaheuristics: a multi-start iterated local search (MS-ILS), a memetic algorithm with population management (MA|PM) and a multi-start evolutionary local search (MS-ELS), which call a variable neighborhood descent algorithm (VND). A two phases split method allows MA|MS and MS-ELS to alternate between two spaces of solutions.The cumulative capacitated vehicle routing problem with indirect deliveries (CCVRP-ID) allows unvisited sites if their demands are provided by an auxiliary vehicle. An MILP and an MS-ELS are developed

This thesis deals with humanitarian assistance from the Czech Republic abroad. The issue of humanitarian assistance is viewed in terms of its own management system and by providing this assistance. The humanitarian assistance has not been compiled into a comprehensive publication before. The constant increasing importance of this problem comes mainly from an increase in the number of disasters caused by the nature on the one hand, and human activities on the other.The issue of the thesis was to define, describe and evaluate the system of management of rescue humanitarian assistance that is provided by Czech Republic abroad and possibly propose some changes in management with the aim to make the humanitarian assistance most effective and fastest to be provided in the affected country. The next issue is to recommend changes in the structure of management to be useful in the praxis and also that the thesis will be appropriate for studying mentioned problems. The research question was if it´s possible to make more effective the procedure of providing rescue humanitarian assistance to the country which was striken by disaster. In relation to the described theory the folllowing assumption was introduced: is it possible to realize the providing and managing of the rescue humanitarian assistance abroad?Research work with the focus on solving practical problem was selected as a processing type of the thesis, it will results in more effective proceeding operation in the mentioned sphere. In this point of view of methodology it´s ?mixed research? in its simple way, qualitative and quantitative research is combined. The analysis of case study and nonstandarized dialogue were applied for solution of research question. The form of analysis, comparation and description in the theoretical part of the thesis was choosen from general to concrete. The first part, mainly characterizes two basic concepts ? The Humanitarian assistance and The Emergency, including definitions of legislation of this issue from the perspective of the European Union and the Czech Republic. There are also identified and described the major practical mechanisms of the assistance - The civil protection modules which send the member states of The European Union, including the Czech Republic, to countries affected by the emergency.This theoretical part of the thesis is followed by a research based on real case studies - provided humanitarian assistance during the floods in Poland in 2010, identifies and defines the system of strategic and operational management, supplement with data and own knowledgement from sphere of service execution ? operation officer of Fire and Rescue Service - procedure of management is formed and followed with the identification of 15 issues from solved sphere. The solution is own proposal which gives with its followed proceeding steps manual (instructions) to crisis managment how to proceed in the first level of management. This procedure is shown here in the form of a practical document that can serve as a ?check-list events? the Checklist. The important point here is a summary of the steps that must not be omitted during proceeding and management of this mechanism, with the only aim ? to provide the humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to the affected area.In the chapter titled the Discussion are into the context given knowledges about described issue.In the end of the thesis the outcomes and results are formulated, the research question if it´s possible to make more effective the procedure of providing rescue humanitarian assistance to the country which was striken by disaster is affirmatived answered with the confirmed assumption. Finally the author´s principle is mentioned which is useable for crisis manager´s work in early decision procedure of providing humanitarian assistance and other recommended steps in this procedure.

A arquitetura do Sistema Humanitário Internacional no século XXI está em expansão. Não somente os recursos aportados têm crescido, como também o número de atores envolvidos como doadores, tais como organizações internacionais governamentais e não governamentais. Os países são os maiores provedores de assistência humanitária, e este grupo também apresenta ampliação. Tradicionalmente, os países membros do Comitê de Assistência ao Desenvolvimento, da Organização para Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (DAC/OCDE) são os atores mais antigos do sistema humanitário contemporâneo e os que mais aportam recursos. A literatura recente, contudo, aponta para a emergência de outros países doadores de fora do grupo, que estariam trazendo mudanças na governança internacional do sistema. Os estudos sobre os doadores \"Não DAC\" carecem de dados precisos, sendo, em sua maioria, baseados em estimativas. Esta pesquisa visa a aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre a atuação desses doadores, valendo-se de estatística descritiva de dados primários de organizações multilaterais do sistema humanitário da Organização das Nações Unidas para se poder mais bem compreender o grau de participação financeiro que os doadores \"Não DAC\" agregam ao sistema. Além disso, o estudo apresenta uma análise de como o Brasil age como doador de assistência humanitária internacional. / The architecture of the International Humanitarian System in the 21st century is expanding. Not only the resources contributed have increased, but also the number of actors involved as donors, such as international governmental and non-governmental organizations. Countries are the largest providers of humanitarian assistance, and this group is also expanding. Traditionally, the member countries of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD / DAC) are the primary actors in the contemporary humanitarian system and those who provide the majority of the resources. Recent literature, however, points to the emergence of other donor countries outside the group that might be bringing changes in the international governance of the system. Studies on \"non-DAC\" donors lack accurate data and are mostly based on estimates. This research aims to deepen knowledge about the performance of these donors, using descriptive statistics on primary data from multilateral organizations of the United Nations humanitarian system to better understand the degree of financial participation that \"Non-DAC\" donors add to the system. Furthermore, the study presents an analysis of Brazil\'s actions as a donor of international humanitarian assistance.

No description available.

Canada coordinates its responses to natural disasters abroad through implementing its ‘whole-of-government’ policy framework. The two largest natural disasters that struck in 2010 were the January earthquake in Haiti and the flooding in Pakistan seven months later. In contrast to the fast and robust earthquake relief provided to Haiti, Canada’s response to the Pakistan floods was minimal, especially when considering the extent of damage sustained. This dissertation applies a public administration lens to trace factors that led to the Government of Canada’s 2010 disaster-relief decisions. It develops a multi-level theoretical framework to holistically explore the role of problem-definition in shaping decision-making. It applies historical institutionalism at the macro level; recognizes the role of case-specific details and arenas at the meso level; and uses the logic of appropriateness to identify informal institutions affecting individual action at the micro level. Analysis of interviews, government documents and media coverage indicates that bureaucratic actors involved in the whole-of-government approach recognize that their role is ultimately removed from final disaster-relief decisions. There is an informal acceptance that political will, more than needs in the disaster-affected region, shapes implementation decisions. Consequently, technical assessment is inadvertently affected, and recommendations reflect what is deemed most in line with ministerial disposition to assist. The primary motivators for Government of Canada action are found to be the gaining of public support or the need to subdue targeted criticisms. Findings indicate that as a result of its media appeal, there was a strong incentive for the deployment of military assets in response to the earthquake in Haiti, even when doing so was not in the best interest of the affected region. Where Canada could respond only with non-military means, there was less incentive for action. This leads to supply-driven relief rather than a needs-based humanitarian response. With the developed theoretical framework, process-mapping and media analysis methodologies, and the actor-centred approach adopted, the dissertation makes theoretical and empirical contributions to existing public administration literature on decision-making and problem definition. It also presents a hitherto unexplored perspective on donor behaviour for consideration by international relations and development scholars.