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Complex, Humanitarian Emergencies: I. Concept and Participants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.*
Affiliation:
Professor of Pediatrics, Surgery (EMS), and Public Health, Chairman, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
*
University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1319 Punahou Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826USA
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Abstract

Complex, humanitarian emergencies, the result of civil strife and armed conflict affecting large populations at the brink of extinction, represent the most compelling of disaster relief challenges. They require the coordination of the United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, international nongovernmental relief organizations, and military forces. An increasing number of civilian and military health-care providers find themselves involved in the planning, coordination, and direct patient-care aspects of these emergencies, often without proper initiation and understanding of the unique nature of these disasters. This article provides a primer on the concept of complex, humanitarian emergencies and the contributions, characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of each major participant.

Keywords

civil warconflictcoordinationdisasterdisaster reliefemergenciesepidemiologyhealth-care providershumanitarianinfrastructureInternational Committee of the Red Crossinternational responsemilitarynongovernmental organizationspovertyrefugee campsrelief workersUnited Nations
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 36 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1995

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