Emergency Preparedness and

Humanitarian Action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any public health situation endangering the life or health of a significant number of people and demanding immediate action. An emergency situation may result from a natural or man-made disaster or a conflict or a combination of both.

   

Health sector is currently facing serious funding shortfall in Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen!

 

Mandate
 

To reduce the health consequences of emergencies, disasters, crises and conflicts, and minimize their social and economic impact.

Millions of people in the Eastern Mediterranean Region* face threats to health because they are at risk of being exposed to crises conditions. The strategic goal of Emergency Preparedness and Humanitarian Action (EHA) is to support communities and health stakeholders as they prepare for, and respond to the health aspects of acute and long-term crises so as to minimize preventable suffering and death and open the way to the recovery of sustainable healthy livelihoods.
 

*Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
 

 

Hospitals Safe from Disasters

We have witnessed countless examples of disasters or emergencies that leave health services struggling to continue to provide medical care as a result of damage to health facilities. In such cases, they are unable to function at a time when services are most needed. In the worst-case scenario, collapsed health facilities have claimed lives of their own patients and health staff. The collapse of several hospitals and damage to health facilities caused by the earthquake in Haiti and the subsequent inability of local health systems to provide critical life-saving trauma and triage in the immediate aftermath is a stark reminder of the need to ensure the safety of the health work force, and the resilience and functionality of the health system in times of crises.

What is a hospital safe from disasters?
Global attention focused on making health facilities disaster-resilient
Regional launch of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign
Publications, multimedia and tools
 
Partners and links
Pilot countries in the region: Oman and Sudan
 

 

 

Current Crises in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Afghanistan
18 January -- No or little snow has been reported in most parts of Afghanistan as of 18 January, which has prompted some to voice concerns about drought. This is an added threat to the expanding and intensifying conflict and fiercely cold conditions that are exacerbating the health crisis facing millions of Afghan children, women and men. The current winter has witnessed a marked increase in cases of acute respiratory infections, some of which are cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. WHO and Health Cluster partners are supporting health services in many parts of the country, as well as advocating for the neutrality and impartiality of health facilities and workers.
UN Special article
More information on Afghanistan

WHO Country Office in Afghanistan website

Afghanistan Humanitarian Action Plan 2010


Darfur
15 January -- Delivery of essential health services to hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur remains severely threatened due to the volatile security situation, difficult access and the withdrawal of UN and NGO staff. WHO and health partners are delivering a substantial portion of humanitarian assistance to ensuring life-saving hospital interventions in IDP camps and host communities, especially to mothers and children, providing water and health services to vulnerable populations to prevent disease outbreaks and ward off malnutrition.
WHO Country Office in Sudan website

More information on Sudan

2010 Work Plan for Sudan


Djibouti
20 January -- The ongoing drought, compounded by the soaring food and fuel prices, general poverty and intermittent conflict in some areas, is having a serious impact on water availability and nutrition, affecting at least 350,000 people. Malnutrition is rising, as is the population’s vulnerability to both non-communicable and communicable diseases as well as to maternal and child heath. Global acute malnutrition for children under five is 17%, reaching 25% in parts of the north-west region. Growing unavailability of safe water is increasing waterborne diseases and cases of cholera have been reported.. The combination of malnutrition, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections is highly prevalent in children. The risk of a malaria outbreak and other vector born diseases remains quite high. WHO is supporting the most vulnerable populations in remote areas through mobile health clinics, providing life-saving medical intervention and disease and nutrition surveillance. 

WHO Country Office in Djibouti website

Drought Appeal


Iraq
20 January -- Rampant insecurity and difficult access to people in need of health services are seriously affecting the health of 3.2 million people in Iraq, of whom 2.8 million are internally displaced (IDPs). Drought is limiting the water supply, intensifying vulnerability to and outbreak of water-borne disease. As delayed evacuation and ambulance care remain the leading causes of death, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health in providing life-saving substantial trauma care and managing/ controlling communicable disease risks including measles, water-borne diseases such as typhoid, diarrheal diseases and vector-borne diseases such as cholera. 
WHO Country Office in Iraq website
More information on Iraq
Iraq Humanitarian Action Plan 2010


occupied Palestinian territory
20 January -- Flooding in Central Gaza on 18 January displaced at least 500 people, the vast majority of whom are registered refugees. Up to 7 people in the affected areas sustained minor injuries and were given prompt medical treatment. This comes at a time when the closure of the Gaza Strip is putting the health of Gazans at risk and gravely undermining the functioning of the health care system. One year after Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, hospitals and primary care facilities, damaged during operation ‘Cast Lead’, have not been rebuilt because construction materials are not allowed into Gaza. The closure of the Gaza strip is further hampering the provision of medical supplies, training of health staff and preventing patients with serious medical conditions getting timely specialized treatment outside Gaza.

WHO Country Office in oPt website

More information on oPt

Consolidated Appeal for occupied Palestinian territory 2010

WHO press release – 20.1.2010 English | Arabic  

Pakistan
12 January -- Insecurity has forced more than 430 000 people from South Waziristan and Orakzai Agency, giving rise to a range of health threats due to the large population displacement and weakened health services. WHO and Health Cluster partners are providing a wide range of health services to support Pakistani efforts to meet health needs. Medicines for more than 300 000 people have been provided to treat emergency cases, diarrhoeal diseases and support maternal health.
Situation report - 8 January 2010
More information on Pakistan
WHO Pakistan Health Cluster Response website

Somalia
18 January -- WHO is assessing with partners the needs of communities affected by the recent upsurge of violence in Dhuusa Mureeb in Galgaduud, Central Somalia, where up to 30 000 people have reportedly been displaced. As of 8 January, an estimated 150 had been killed and another 81 wounded. WHO donated a Trauma Kit – enough supplies for 100 surgical interventions – to partners providing health care to communities in the District.


Health Cluster Bulletin - December 2009
WHO Country Office in Somalia website
More information on Somalia
2010 Consolidated Appeal Plan

Southern Sudan
15 December 2009 -- According to recent reports, over 350,000-450,000 people have been displaced in Western Equatoria State (WES) and Central Equatoria State (CES) since December 2008 resulting from the Lord Resistance Army rebel group’s campaign of terror. Along with another 16 000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), most internally displaced persons (IDPs) have settled in camps in Yambio and Yei counties.
Situation report  - 15 December 2009 (Arabic) (French)

Syrian Arab Republic
20 January -- At least 1.3 million inhabitants of eastern Syria have been affected by drought, out of which 803,000 have lost their livelihoods and 500,000 have been displaced. Malnutrition is increasingly prevalent among people in these remote and difficult to access areas. Stunting in these areas has been as high as 35% and rates for underweight (reflecting acute malnutrition) are peaking at 23%. The resulting water stress has spelt doom for the quality of water, increasing outbreak risk of waterborne diseases by almost six-fold in some areas. Diarrheal and respiratory diseases have also been on the rise in the affected areas.  


WHO Country Office in Syrian Arab Republic website

Syria Drought Response Plan 2009  

Yemen
18 January -- The ‘sixth war’ between the Yemeni army and Shia Houthi rebels broke out on 12 August after a year-old truce collapsed. Since the fighting began, approximately 828,908 have been affected and nearly 250,000 people from various districts in Yemen’s northern province of Sa’ada have fled their homes to safer areas on the border with Saudi Arabia, as renewed clashes between the army and Houthi rebels escalated. 
Situation report - 18 January 2010 (Arabic - French)
More information on Yemen
2010 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen

 

Whom to contact in an emergency
 

Issues

Influenza A (H1N1)

Influenza A (H1N1) monitor
 


Health implications of the global food security crisis
 


Definitions
 

Read the myths and
realities

Related publications


WHO Emergency Handbook
for the Eastern Mediterranean Region

 




Lives
prepare, respond, rebuild

(pdf, 6 MB)


The WHO e-atlas of disaster risk: volume 1. Exposure to natural hazards