Toward an orderly and efficient post-disaster humanitarian material donation system: a case study of the ‘9·5’ Luding earthquake

Purpose This study aims to assess the orderliness of the humanitarian material donation system (HMDS) following the 2022 “9·5” Luding Earthquake in China, providing insights into improving disaster relief efficiency and promoting postdisaster recovery. Design/methodology/approach The orderliness of the HMDS is evaluated across three dimensions: donation input, donation output and donation environment. Correlation entropy and running entropy models are used to assess the system’s dynamics and to compare the performance of four donor types: government, enterprises, organizations and individuals. Findings The early emergency phase (the first 12 days after the earthquake) is characterized by disorder and repeated fluctuations, reflecting instability in donation activities. From Day 13 onward, the system transitions into a stable state, signaling the onset of recovery. The government plays a leading role in coordination, and enterprises serve as primary material suppliers, while organizations and individuals display higher uncertainty and spontaneity. Originality/value This study advances disaster management research by applying entropy-based models to dynamically assess the orderliness of HMDS. It extends theoretical understanding by linking entropy, orderliness and multiagent coordination and provides empirical evidence from a recent major earthquake. Practically, the findings highlight the differentiated roles of donor types and the importance of adaptive supply strategies in enhancing the efficiency and resilience of postdisaster relief systems.