Frequently
Asked Questions

The main objective of the Logistics Support System project is to improve the management of humanitarian aid, strengthening national capacity to effectively manage humanitarian supplies, getting them to affected people appropriately and conveniently. For the creation of the LSS, three global meetings sponsored by WFP, OCHA, WHO, and PAHO were held. In these meetings, more than 50 UN and NGO experts defined the parameters of the tool.

• Pentium IV Processor or higher (Any Celeron or Intel processor or compatible processor)
• RAM 512MB or higher
• Any Windows System
• Hard Disk 2500MB (2.5 Gigabytes) of free space
• Printer (Recommended)
• For a local network, a router and connection devices such as Ethernet cables.

The first step is to train local human resources in the country on the organization and management of emergency supplies and the use of the LSS software to classify, sort, and assign priority levels. When a disaster occurs, these people will be able to install and operate the system in different supply management sites. In cases of major disasters or in places where LSS is not established, an international team can provide assistance with the intention of training the local population to assume self-sufficient management of the system in the shortest possible time.

Inbound

An inbound is a record of supplies or items sent from a sender to a receiver, arriving at the same time and by the same mode of transport. Items may have been received on consignment at another location, or at this location, as a result of a purchase, or as a result of a donation from an external source. An inbound may also have been transferred from another warehouse location.

Outbound

Outbounds are shipments of items from stock and/or consignments to a specific location.

Pipeline

Pipeline is a list of items from the database that are committed, pledged, expected, or available for the warehouse or LSS location.

Request

A site can record requests it receives from others for needed items. This information can then be used to plan and allocate the distribution of goods to the most needy areas.

Stock Basket

The stock basket allows grouping items for reporting purposes. You can select a specific group of items for a report without having to individually select items each time the report is run.

Import/Export

Systems can export or import information between LSS sites, as well as incorporate information on stocks or projects from external systems, such as Commodity Tracking Systems (CTS) used by UN agencies and major NGOs.

Those who can be trained include personnel from national governmental entities responsible for emergency coordination, as well as public, private, non-governmental, and other organizations involved in or related to emergency relief. In addition, there are members of the international community, such as international NGOs, UN agencies, and bilateral agencies.

The promotion and coordination of LSS is carried out through national entities involved in emergencies and disasters, such as ministries of health, emergency committees, Red Cross branches, etc. Any institution interested in receiving training should contact the office responsible for disaster management in the national Ministry of Health or through the local PAHO/WHO office. The LSS system has been designed with special attention to the participation of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

LSS facilitates data collection for easier decision-making. All data entered and processed by the system is the property of the affected country, under the auspices of the authorities responsible for emergency management.