Two-Stage Transportation Model for Distributing Relief Aids to the Affected Regions in an Emergency Response Under Uncertainty

Abstract

Natural disasters have become increasingly frequent, complex, and lengthy, causing devastating effects on people and their belongings. Relief materials aim to save lives, reduce vulnerability, and distribute aid quickly. Despite challenges in distribution, transportation models can reduce costs, time, and other factors. This study proposes a conventional transportation model with two stages to distribute relief aid quickly and efficiently to victims in uncertain scenarios. The model minimizes shipping costs and distributes aid to the least and most affected areas. Fuzzy triangular membership functions are used to redistribute surplus relief items. The model’s effectiveness is demonstrated through numerical illustrations and comparative analysis using conventional and traditional methods. The results are obtained using MATLAB, and the model provides new insights through sensitivity analysis. The proposed transportation model is efficient and effective in distributing relief aid during natural disasters.