2003:19). Sorting out the proper food/supplies early in the pipeline can reduce the
amount of improper material being transported, thus freeing transportation and personnel
resources to move the items that are truly needed. Even better, the affected country
should make a detailed assessment of needs before generating a request for assistance,
thus ensuring the importation of “only those materials and help that would be useful
because they have been requested based on a real appraisal of needs” (PAHO, 2000:10).
Van der Vorst and Beulens (2002) compiled multiple methods for coping with
uncertainty based on comprehensive literature review. Table 1 below is a summary of
pertinent strategies. Some of these strategies also serve as solutions for other barriers to
effective humanitarian logistics thereby providing further reason to consider their
implementation.