Comments on: Logistics questions around the Haiti earthquake

By: Michael Keizer

Michael Keizer — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:29:14 +0000

Hello Sara,

I have just sent you an email message about this.

By: Sara Gunn

Sara Gunn — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:04:13 +0000

Hello Michael,

In November 2010 we corresponded about your work and lessons learned in Haiti.

In 2011, I completed my Master’s thesis about aid coordination in Haiti. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing is now reviewing my manuscript for publishing. “LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing specializes in the publication of high-quality research works; to be specific theses, dissertations and postdoctoral theses from respected institutions worldwide.”

My question to you is this:
Do I have your permission to publish your name and your words in my interview section of my thesis? (i.e. quoted from your words on this “leave a comment” trend above)?

Thanks for your feedback, Sara J. Gunn.

By: Why aid is slow getting to Haiti | Good Intentions Are Not Enough

Why aid is slow getting to Haiti | Good Intentions Are Not Enough — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:02:17 +0000

[...] Logistics questions around the Haiti earthquake – A Humourless Lot – discusses the importance of good logistics to the success of relief work, common logistical challenges, and how this relates to Haiti [...]

By: Michael Keizer

Michael Keizer — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:08:12 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Sara! Much appreciated.

Regarding your question: all the elements you mention are important, but I think the most important thing to realise is that there is no standard recipe that will always lead to success. What works in the Netherlands might will probably not work at all in the US — and those are two developed countries with fairly similar cultures (definitely more similar than, say, Haiti and Pakistan, or even Congo and Mali). It may take even local variations to get things to work — e.g., I can totally imagine a very different situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region from what should be done in its Somali region.

My take is that the only thing we can do is to develop tools and train people to use those tools — and, perhaps more importantly, to use the right tool at the right time and place. As usual, no easy answers.

I would love to see what you come up with!

By: Sara Gunn

Sara Gunn — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:10:41 +0000

Fascinating Michael! Great ideas! Great analysis. Your insight is appreciated. I’m an American graduate student studying in Leiden, Netherlands (near the Hague) and researching logistical coordination following natural disaster in Haiti. I wanted to say thank you for posting this. I’m wondering if I can even answer this question (it’s difficult)– What conditions need to be put in place for logistical support and and humanitarian relief coordination to work?

What do we need to prepare long before natural disasters occur? I know disaster preparedness is key (but getting donors to sponsor prevention management projects is more difficult than getting donors to sponsor current disaster relief). Infrastructure and roads are also important (but disasters can cause these to be inaccessible to NGOs). Empowering civil society (i.e. political will, government support, and local participation of various interest groups) in projects is also important (but some people are not emotionally ready for work following natural disasters). ICTs and the use of cell phones is on the rise (but that it only one avenue for successful coordination). What conditions are needed? If you know, I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks again Michael.

By: The problem with Stop and Droppers | Good Intentions Are Not Enough The problem with Stop and Droppers | An honest conversation about the impact of aid

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:46:47 +0000

[...] Logistics questions around the Haiti earthquake – A Humourless Lot – discusses the logistical challenges of moving goods after a disaster and the problems caused by unneeded goods [...]

By: 6 questions you should ask before donating goods overseas | Good Intentions Are Not Enough 6 questions you should ask before donating goods overseas | An honest conversation about the impact of aid

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:42:31 +0000

[...] Logistics questions around the Haiti earthquake – A Humourless Lot – discusses the logistical challenges of moving goods after a disaster and the problems caused by unneeded goods [...]

By: Michael Keizer

Michael Keizer — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:50:54 +0000

Thanks for that insider's view, Robion! Much of what you say is echoed by others that I have talked with. Concerning MSF's outspokenness around these issues: you might be interested in this presentation from Avril Benoît, who coordinated MSF's media effort around the Haiti response, including the Twitter 'campaign' around airport access:

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:17:06 +0000

Hi Michael-
I am 15 year disaster logistician, 10 years in humanitarian agencies. Thanks for blogging on these topics. I very much agree with your assessment that there are always logistics challenges, and an increased culture of logistics preparedness is the best way forward for ‘helping better.’ I would add that I also felt as though the US Govt was waving this proclamation of ‘the logistics are challenging’ due to a lack of US understanding that challenging logistics is pretty standard in underdeveloped disasters; and due to an overall naive approach by Americans that domestic assumptions and ways of operating would work in Haiti. This approach led to much greater challenges . In particular, the US military beelined for taking over the PaP airport with the Haiti Govt, and once permitted (3 days in), the lack of coordination with the international aid community made access near impossible for INGOs. (See some of the press from the outspoken MSF.) In the Tsunami, the US military as much more cooperative with the humanitarian community and USAID–perhaps because it was one of many militaries vs holdign overwhelming domination– to support airlift priority based on assessed needs, and directed air assets in order of the agreed priority. In the case of Haiti, once the US military took control of the airport, prioritization was inadequate and misaligned. This mechanism remained at the whims of an inexperienced crew, until weeks into the response after much pressure from our community. Hence, The PaP gate, which was allowing approximately 100 flights in a day, was made wide open to a) the outpouring of domestic charities with no international experience, as well b) high level dignitaries-many of these 2 categories were unprepared for a non-America environment, and became themselves in need of aid. And finally, c) military filled 50% of the pipeline to bring in construction assets for building another runway (not the usual priority when people need food, water and medical). INGOs were forced to resort to entry via DR to avoid this small catastrophe, and work around the thousands of inexperienced people creating greater chaos and taking up the precious logistics resources.

By: Good Intentions Are Not Enough » Blog Archive » 6 questions you should ask before donating goods overseas

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:32:33 +0000

[...] Logistics questions around the Haiti earthquake – A Humourless Lot – discusses the logistical challenges of moving goods after a disaster and the problems caused by unneeded goods [...]