Assessing distribution efficiency in the humanitarian flood relief supply chain / Mazrul Hisyam Ab Malik

Humanitarian relief supply chain is a supply chain that can create cost-effective material flows, financial value flows and information flows for the planning, implementing, and controlling of relief operation during disaster or crises. Increasing humanitarian needs, unmatched by increased funding, require innovative ways of working, ways that generate more efficiencies, avoid duplication, and increase the quality of goods and services by the aid ecosystem. Floods are Malaysia's most prevalent natural calamity, wreaking havoc in both urban and rural areas. More than 100,000 people were affected during the December 2021 Klang Valley flash flood disaster and more than 10,000 volunteers from various NGOs and other charity organizations were organised throughout to assist the disaster victims. Apart from following the National Security Council's standard operation procedure for pandemic Covid-19 humanitarian assistance in this flood and according to the order of the disaster management procedure by the federal government and the state government, NGOs had to cooperate and coordinate with the procedures of the federal government and state government to distribute tasks and assistance during the December 2021 flash flood disaster, to ensure that the distribution of humanitarian relief supply for the victims is carried out successfully. This study examines the problems that Malaysia's humanitarian relief supply chains stakeholders faced during the flash flood disaster, as well as the factors that influenced aid distribution efficiency. This study uses qualitative research methodology, based on a case study of humanitarian aid operations carried out during the December 2021 Malaysian flash flood crisis at Klang Valley, in-depth interviews with government agencies and established NGOs and relief agencies were conducted. The results of the interviews and observations of flood relief operations were analyzed using the content analysis method. This study has found that in ensuring the efficiency of the distribution of relief supplies during a flood disaster, it is important to coordinate between all parties involved in disaster management, infrastructure and facilities, communication, resource availability in making operations successful, leadership among flood disaster management leaders, awareness, and involvement community during flood relief operations.