Economics Of Emergency Relief Management In Developing Countries: With Case Studies On Food Relief In Angola And Mozambique
With Case Studies on Food Relief in Angola and Mozambique
Development Economics and Policy Series, Vol. 19

The humanitarian crises which occurred in the recent past demostrate the importance of adequate and informed emergency relief interventions. The study shows that the analysis of causes, costs and trends of disasters and violent conflicts in developing countries is essential for effective emergency relief management. A conceptual framework of the role of information in crises and of decision-making in these emergency situations that integrates economic aspects is developed. A computer-based decision-support system is proposed for use in disaster management. The conceptual considerations are illustrated by two case studies on food emergencies in Angola (conflict and drought) and Mozambique (flood). It is shown that the external conditions of crises call for adaptive and flexible intervention packages instead of predesigned solutions.

Causes of Disasters and Violent Conflicts – Costs of Disasters and Violent Conflicts – Role of Information in Emergency Relief Management – Emergency Relief under Uncertainty – Disaster Information Management – Disaster Decision-Making – Food Emergency Interventions in Angola and Mozambique – Relief Food Aid – Food-For-Work in Flood and Drought.

Torsten Feldbrügge studied food economics and nutrition at the University of Kiel, Germany, and at University College Cork, Ireland. He holds a diploma degree in food economics and nutrition (Ökotrophologie) from the University of Kiel. Between 1995 and 1997, he was research analyst at the Institute of Food Economics of the Faculty of Agriculture and Nutrition at Kiel University. Since 1998, Torsten Feldbrügge is a research analyst at the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn, Germany. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kiel in 2000.