Addressing food insecurity among vulnerable Venezuelan migrants: A zero-hunger district approach using the social vulnerability index

Alimentary issues in migrants are a ubiquitous problem. This research aims to provide a humanitarian logistics solution to address food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in the Surquillo district by locating food facilities, given the vulnerability of agents within this territory. We leverage Surquillo’s potential as a food-hub district, and our work serves policymakers’ decision-making to create a zero-hunger geographical territory. Data was obtained through a survey focusing on the alimentary and socioeconomic aspects of Venezuelan migrants in Surquillo. Anonymously processed data was used to evaluate a Social Vulnerability Index for each observation. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to prioritize the crucial characteristics of assessing vulnerability. Local authorities provided information regarding Surquillo’s alimentary supply. Finally, this research incorporated road network distance to arrive at the result of the Facility Location Problem technique. The model outputs are facilities locations that allow the distribution of additional market surplus, thus reducing food insecurity among the most vulnerable Venezuelan migrants. The suggested distribution points endeavor to minimize the food-related deprivation costs of Venezuelan migrants in Surquillo. The solution is a scalable and feasible public policy proposal contributing to the authorities’ interests. This paper addresses conceptual topics relying on a practical solution for policymakers. Also, generating an optimization model adds value to the humanitarian field, covering widespread topics such as food insecurity and migratory issues.