Richa Malhotra in SciDev.net: A piece of software developed by a Canadian non-profit organisation is helping humanitarian aid agencies to improve the logistics of aid distribution in disaster-affected countries.World Vision Canada has developed ‘Last Mile Mobile Solutions’ (LMMS), a mobile and desktop software package which automates and speeds up the emergency relief activities that distribute aid to people affected by natural disasters or disease outbreaks.
Oxfam, Medair and the Norwegian Refugee Council are among the agencies to have already used the software and there are plans by World Vision to use it in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, too.
With a new android version of the software released last month to make the process even quicker, and a recent grant for the LMMS of US$900,000 from Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, more aid workers are set to benefit from the switch to digital.
Conventional aid delivery involves agencies manually inputting rations and supplies into paper files while working on the ground in disaster-hit areas. LMMS automates this, making aid agencies more efficient and accountable....
US aid to the Philippines after Typhoon Megi in 2010, US Department of Defense photo
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