An Analysis of Philippine and Japanese Naval Assets for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations

Abstract

Located in the Typhoon Belt of the Pacific, the Philippines and Japan experience strong tropical cyclones every year that affect millions of people living near or within the coastal areas. When the magnitude of a disaster reaches a national level of response, the navies of both countries are mandated to augment other government agencies in support of disaster relief and response operations. Because time is of the essence, ships ready for sea near the affected areas are usually the immediate choice for deployment. We analyze the strongest tropical cyclones that devastated both countries and the resulting government responses to determine the most efficient and effective type of ship for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The parameters we use in the analysis are the ships’ current capabilities, the process to select ships for deployment, and the HADR policies of both countries, which result in the recognition of critical and non-critical ship’s capabilities. The analysis also reveals the potential use of the amphibious capability for humanitarian logistics in coastal areas. This research may also serve as a guide for the United States Navy or other foreign navies in sending ships to any countries in East Asia and the Pacific region whenever international support is sought.