Editorial
Capturing Progress in Disaster Reduction:
100 Issues of the Disasters Newsletter

This is our 100th issue!. We have focused on creating networks among the disaster community and chronicling progress in disaster preparedness and mitigation in the Americas…and beyond. (More)

New multimedia simulation on volcanic eruptions

Imagine yourself in the midst of a volcanic eruption. Thanks to a new computer-based simulation, the gap between reality and imagination has been bridged. PAHO and a number of organizations in Colombia and Ecuador have been able to improve health preparedness for volcanic emergencies through new simulated exercises. (More)

LSS: the Interagency Logistics Support System

PAHO and other international organizations have finished the first development phase of the Logistics Support System (LSS). The LSS is a common approach to logistics support that helps to consolidate and share information, improve transparency and register and monitor undocumented items, particularly unsolicited donations. (More)

The Tsunami in South Asia: Six Months Later

The devastating Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami of December 2004, although catastrophic to many South Asian nations, provided an opportunity for improvement of health systems in a long-term, sustainable manner. Working closely with local governments, WHO is currently providing technical and logistical support to expand and diversify the health sector’s response to disastrous events like last January’s tsunami. (More)

Mark your Calendar for a Live Webcast on Public Health and Disasters

You can be part of what is predicted to be the largest Internet-based lecture in history. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh (USA), the lecture will discuss how epidemiologists can improve their response to disasters. (More)

Worth mentioning…

• An intensive five-day training workshop on malaria control in complex emergencies will be held in New York in October....
• Visit www.disastereducation.org to download a copy of Talking about Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages, a publication produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition... (More)

MERCOSUR and Member States Present Advances in Risk Management

Member States of MERCOSUR, the Southern Common Market, met to discuss advances made in risk reduction and disaster response, in line with strategic guidelines agreed upon at the first meeting of the inter-governmental commission of risk management and vulnerability reduction. (More)

Fire Sweeps through Calderon Guardia Hospital in Costa Rica

A fire at one of Costa Rica’s major health facilities in mid-July killed nineteen people. The tragic event brought to light the necessity to ensure that hospitals need to be safe from man-made as well as natural disasters. Failure to do so will make it difficult to prevent events like this from continuing, causing tragic consequences to our health networks. (More)

In South America, Andean Institutions and Disaster Coordinators Adopt Disaster Strategy, Call for Safe Hospitals

At the annual meeting of ministers of health of the Andean countries (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), delegates paid particular attention to disaster issues, approving the content of a health sector disaster preparedness and response strategic plan 2005-2010 and adopting the motto “safe hospitals in disaster situations” as an Andean risk reduction policy. (More)

PAHO’s Central America Disaster Office to Move to Panama

Panama City will be the new home of PAHO’s sub-regional disaster office, expanding Panama’s role in the field of disaster management. Currently, several UN agencies—among them OCHA, UNICEF, UNDP and WFP—have located their regional offices there. (More)

Cuba to Host International Seminar on Hospitals

A seminar on the Hospital of the XXI Century will take place in Havana, Cuba from 11-14 October. Hospitals in disaster situations will be one of the topics covered. (More)

2005 Hurricane Season Ramps Up Early

Hurricane Emily was an unpredictable storm from the beginning. It struck Grenada as a category 1 hurricane on July 13 causing damage to many of the same health facilities that were battered by last year’s Hurricane Ivan. Other Caribbean countries were spared devastation by Emily, which passed over the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula as a category 4 hurricane. (More)

ICRC Publishes Best Practices

Operational best practices regarding the management of human remains and information on the dead by non-specialists is the title of a new publication on the subject from the International Committee of the Red Cross. (More)

The Tsunami and After: WHO’s Role

“The aftermath of the tsunami presented a great public health challenge to WHO. However, every disaster presents opportunities to both countries and international agencies to strengthen their capabilities and capacity,” said Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Director. (More)

Compendium of Articles Seeks to Define Disasters

What is a Disaster? New Answers to Old Questions is the title of a new volume, edited by R.W. Perry and E.L. Quarantelli, which addresses this most basic question: that of defining the phenomenon. (More)

Selected Bibliography

The articles listed in this section may be of interest to health professionals and others responsible for disaster preparedness, mitigation and relief. (More)