Rapidly changing conditions, such as environmental pollution which has led to deterioration of primary water sources, and other factors such as uncontrolled urban growth, are forcing the water and sanitation...

The articles listed in this section come from the collection of the Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID). Request copies from CRID, citing the numerical reference code included with the title.

Floods are the most frequently occurring natural hazard globally and in the Caribbean. Because flood events can adversely affect environmental health, contingency plans are critically important. 

CD-ROM... Building codes from selected countries have been compiled on a new CD. 

The Inter-American Development Bank’s publication “Planning and Financial Protection to Survive Disasters” distinguishes between risk management—which calls for prior planning and investments to reduce vulnerability—and emergency response, which involves after-the-fact...

Disasters, whether natural or complex, can outstrip the capacity of the local health system to provide the required care, either because of a massive number of casualties or as a...

In July, more than 100 professionals met in El Salvador at the international meeting “Hospitals in Disasters: Handle with Care.”

The radio drama Hurricane Season (Tiempos de Huracanes)—launched in October 2002 and broadcast by more than 50 radio stations in Central America—weaves the tale of how a community’s level of...

The Caribbean is exposed to the risk of natural and manmade hazards, especially hurricanes and storms associated with the annual hurricane season. The environmental health sector is often affected.

Representatives from Ministries of Health of Andean Region countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) and from the Southern Cone (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay) met to define a strategic...

In the wake of Hurricane Mitch, the most devastating disaster to strike Central America in decades, SICA, the Central American System for Integration and CEPREDENAC, its disaster arm, helped guide...

Several municipalities in Central America are adopting innovative risk management and prevention measures to reduce their vulnerability to disasters.

The Humanitarian Policy Group has synthesized information from a report on needs assessments and decision making in the international humanitarian system into a briefing paper that explores how responses by...

People In Aid, the network of 50+ international relief, development and advocacy agencies, has launched a revised “Code of good practice in the management and support of aid personnel”. 

HelpAge International has published guidelines that suggest practical ways to meet the needs of the older population in emergency situations.

The Pan American Health Organization and the International Organization for Migration have an opening for a regional health advisor on migrating populations, with duty station in Bogota, Colombia. 

We have found these websites that may be of use for people interested in disasters.

The updated 2003 edition (in Spanish) of the catalog of publications and training material on disasters and emergencies is now available in print and online versions.

In November, professors from Latin American and Caribbean universities that have disaster distance education programs will join experts in Internet-based training and international organizations that deal extensively in traditional training...

In the aftermath of a major natural disaster, authorities must prioritize many urgent tasks, including: (1) rescuing the survivors and providing the care they need, (2) restoring or maintaining basic...