Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Situations: A Guide for Effective Aid

This PAHO publication provides strong evidence that humanitarian assistance can considerably benefit a country ravaged by disaster if it responds with real needs. Likewise, when responding with unsolicited donations, or when donors have a misguided view of those needs, it can also become a burden.

This new guide combines and updates several publications that PAHO has published in the last 15 years in the hope their recommendations and principles will help donors and beneficiaries in making their decisions to maximize the benefits in the short and long terms for the countries affected by natural and complex disasters.

Guidelines for Drug Donations

There are many types of drug donation. Some are a rapid response to an acute emergency or form a component of development aid. Others represent the philantropic aims of large corporations. Yet others are small and targeted for use by individual health facilities. But all too often, drug donations are inappropriate and cause disposal problems for their recipients.

By describing "good donation practice", these WHO guidelines aim to improve the quality of drug donations. As a basis for national or institutional guidelines, they can be adapted and implemented by governments and organizations dealing with this type of assistance.