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by people from across the country,the road network is the most viableoption for Nepal.”

Adopting new routes forgetting in relief material

New ways and means are beingadopted for smooth deliveries toNepal keeping in mind its mountain-ous terrain and geographical location.Deepak Baid, Director, SiddhiVinayak Logistic expresses, “Peopleacross the country were keen todonate items for Nepal relief. Initiallyit was a challenge to cover all areasin India to collect parcels, but ourteam strategically planned and com-pleted the process. The trucks arebeing unloaded at Raxaul where thearmy takes charge of the goods sent.From there the goods will be sendingforward to Birganj where volunteersof relief camps will distribute them tothe affected areas.”

There is limited access to theaffected areas by both road and air.Franck Dedenis,Managing Directorfor Maersk (India and Sri Lanka)

elucidates, “As train movementbetween Kolkata and ICD Birgunjcontinues unaffected, Indian railwayshas increased movement of bulk andcontainer trains on the sector. MaerskLine is helping customers take advan-tage of this arrangement, by allowingempty containers at ICD Birgunj.”

But Logistics Service Providersalready operating in Nepal, and wishing to provide its services to thehumanitarian communities providingservices, have a different experienceto share. Thomas Murray, ManagingDirector, Flash Freight Logistics putsforward, “We are sending escort volunteers along with the cargo to the affected areas. Landslides are being cleared by the government

so it helps us to reach the destinations. We are also sendingcargo in pickups as most of the roads are gravelled in the

terrain. Helicopter services are the only way where one can providerelief material to remote places; theyneed not land but just drop the reliefmaterial where needed.”

Learning from the pastThe scale of disasters like the

2004 South East Asia tsunami and2010 Haiti earthquake have indeedtaught a lot about unseen logisticalhurdles, the weaknesses in meticu-lously planned supply chains and the need for managing the varioussupply chain activities in extremevolatile conditions.

The speed of response in acountry where infrastructure has col-lapsed and the extent to which sup-ply chains turn fragile are highlightedin the aftermath of such a disaster.Marianelli stresses, “The chaos thatfollows as a result of disaster despitethe response teams being in placeonly teaches us about the level ofcoordination required between thevarious government and non-govern-ment organisations along with vari-ous other agencies who rush in togive help to the affected areas.”

Preparing for the future Nepal is continuously getting

support from relief operations by various countries that are working in close coordination with its government. The difficult road networks are a hurdle in providinghumanitarian aid to remote villages.The country’s geography makes itvulnerable to earthquakes, landslidesand other natural disasters. Issues like climate change andincreasing population in pockets like Kathmandu valley are factors

that need to be addressed. As thecountry learns lessons to tackle suchcatastrophe in future, Agarwal advises, “In order to ensure its own better future, Nepal needs to implement stronger enforcementof construction rules. Learning from countries like Chile and Japan, and seeking collaboration for disaster risk reduction, would also be a great step.”

Shoring up supply chainfor the future

As supply chain companies aimto provide logistics to any part of thecountry which needs assistance, thepriority of the non-government organisations working on relief operations, in close coordination

with the government, is to help those affected with basic necessitiesas food, blankets, tarps, and clean drinking water. But gearing up the supply chain for future is also necessary. Anand explains, “Long-term strategy will be to workclosely with the Nepal government tobuild strategy to rehabilitate them bybuilding houses.”

That human life is uncertainand precarious is quite evident fromthe various calamities the countryhas already suffered and is nowbanking on efficient logistics for necessary supplies.

Supply chain companies adopt new methods

Franck DedenisManaging DirectorMaersk (India and Sri Lanka)

Thomas MurrayManaging DirectorFlash Freight Logistics

uContd. from page 14

Trivia :� The supply chain companies are

working in close co-operation withlocal authorities, United Nations,and numerous foreigngovernments, NGOs and aidagencies.

� Fast unloading at the small airportand expert warehousing have beenthe key to keeping the airport openand ensuring that there is the rightequipment get to the appropriaterelief agencies as fast as possible.

Deepak BaidDirectorSiddhi Vinayak Logistic