Articles

One of the health sector’s fundamental tasks is to ensure the continuity of health services delivery to the population affected by a disaster.

Even before an emergency occurs, the network of health care facilities should be prepared for emergencies stemming from different hazards, both natural and anthropogenic.

Consequently, health care facilities should have emergency preparedness and response plans in place, their staff should be properly trained to implement the plans, and the necessary resources should be available.

Coordinating international health assistance is the responsibility of the ministry of health, in close coordination with the national entity responsible for coordinating disaster response, the ministry of foreign affairs, and the national entity responsible for international cooperation if one exists.

When a disaster exceeds the response capacity of an affected country and humanitarian assistance is deemed necessary it is essential to rapidly determine what is needed and what is not. Prolonged silence or a lack of response to an offer of assistance is not an option, as it can lead to unrequested and unnecessary aid or delay the arrival of assistance that is urgently needed to satisfy the unmet health needs of the affected population. For more reading on this issue, we recommend Be a Better Donor: Practical Recommendations for Humanitarian Aid.