Multimodal Transport and the Integration of Transport Modes to Support Disaster Relief Operations

Over the last few years, with the rise of natural/man-made disasters, the importance of the humanitarian supply chain has also received a significant value. Humanitarian supply chain performs under special circumstances compared to commercial supply chain such as lack of communication system, electricity, and destabilized transport infrastructure after a disaster. However, disasters are unpredictable; therefore, the demand for supplies (relief items), casualties, and required transportation modes to access the affected area are also unpredictable. Thus, the integration of different modes of transportation is essential to encounter any disaster situation promptly, such as disasters in South Asia in 2001, which caused the death of thousands due to lack of transport infrastructure, inadequate disaster relief planning, and lack of transport integration.