 |
 Foreign
medical volunteers with any kind of medical background are needed. |
 The
local population almost always covers immediate lifesaving needs. Only medical
personnel with skills that are not available in the affected country may
be needed. |
 Any
kind of international assistance is needed, and it's needed now! |
A
hasty response that is not based on an impartial evaluation only contributes
to the chaos. It is better to wait until genuine needs have been assessed.
|
 Epidemics
and plagues are inevitable after every disaster. |
Epidemics
do not spontaneously occur after a disaster and dead bodies will not lead
to catastrophic outbreaks of exotic diseases. The key to preventing disease
is to improve sanitary conditions and educate the public. |
 The
affected population is too shocked and helpless to take responsibility for
their own survival. |
On
the contrary, many find new strength during an emergency, as evidenced by
the thousands of volunteers who spontaneously united to sift through the
rubble in search of victims after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. |
 Disasters
are random killers. |
Disasters
strike hardest at the most vulnerable group, the poor --especially women,
children and the elderly. |
 Locating
disaster victims in temporary settlements is the best alternative. |
It
should be the last alternative. Many agencies use funds normally spent for
tents to purchase building materials, tools, and other construction-related
support in the affected country. |
 Things
are back to normal within a few weeks. |
The
effects of a disaster last a long time. Disaster-affected countries deplete
much of their financial and material resources in the immediate post-impact
phase. Successful relief programs gear their operations to the fact that
international interest wanes as needs and shortages become more pressing.
|
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program
Email: disaster@paho.org Fax:(202)
775-4578 |
