This talk examines the emerging field of humanitarian logistics through the lens of famine relief in Southeast Asia and East Africa during the 1980s, right at the moment the phrase “humanitarian logistics” was first being used. Dr. Smith discusses tensions and shifting power dynamics experienced by governments, NGOs and international authorities like the United Nations that were involved in relief efforts, and she describes the fundamentally cynical but necessary streamlining and simplification of crisis site logistics that takes place in all three kinds of humanitarian organizations in order to set emergency relief projects up for success (and continued funding).