This is a summary of the presentations and discussion of Panel 2.18, Logistics, Information Technology, and Telecommunication in crisis Management of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May 2005. The topics discussed included issues related to logistics, information Technology (IT), and crisis communication pertaining to the responses to the damage created by the Tsunami. It iss presented in the following major sections: (1) issues; (2) lessons learned; (3)what was done well; (4)what could have been done better; and (5)conclusions and recommendations. Each major section is presented in four sub-sections: (1) needs assessments; (2) coordination; (3) filling the gaps; and (4) capacity building.

This is a synthesis of the presentations and discussions pertaining to Needs Assessments of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May 2005. The topics discussed included: (1) Needs assessments; (2) Coordination; (3) Effectiveness of needs assessments; (4) Needs assessments change; (5) Qualifications for conducting needs assessments; (6) Dissemination; (7) Emergencies overlay background needs assessments; (8) Need for standards; and (9) Conclusions and recommendations.

This paper outlines each aspect of coordination as it relates to the responses made by various organizations in the disaster-affected areas. It is a synthesis of the presentations and discussions pertaining to coordination during the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May 2005. Coordination is defined, and two important questions are answered: (1) What coordination was done well?; and (2) What coordination could have been done better?.

This is a synthesis of the presentations and discussions of the Conference in Phuket, Thailand relative to filling the gaps in available services. The topics discussed in this section include: (1) gaps in the early phases of relief, including food, water and sanitation, shelter, health services, field hospitals, mental health, and women's health; (2) what can be done better including the armed forces, the private commercial sector, and coordination; (4) the development of standards; and (5) conclusions and recommendations.

This is a synthesis of the presentations and discussions pertaining to Capacity Building for Health Responses in Disasters of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May 2005. The topics discussed included: (1) Specific goals; (2)Main focal areas, including available training programs, country-specific training programs, targeted technical assistance for training programs, certified training programs, and ensuring that funding is available for training; (3) What has been achieved in building capacity; (4) Challenges; (5) Where capacity building is needed; and (6) Conclusions and recommendations.