Some reflections on the breadth and depth of the field of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on current research in the field of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management (SCM). Design/methodology/approach – The paper serves as the editorial for this issue of JHLSCM . Findings – The paper stresses the importance of the role of publications such as JHLSCM to help to bridge the gap between the theoretician and the practitioner, and between the profit and non‐profit sectors. In this way, knowledge and experience from all of these sources can be combined to deliver a more efficient and effective logistic response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. Originality/value – The paper provides an overview of some of the key challenges in the field of humanitarian logistics and SCM.