Editorial
Safe Hospitals—Don't Let Them Become a Casualty of Disasters

For decades, the health sector has struggled with the recurring disruption of medical services caused by damage to hospitals in the aftermath of natural disasters. Just when these services are most needed, they are either unavailable or must be provided in makeshift quarters because a health facility cannot function. In the worst case scenario, collapsed health facilities have claimed the lives of patients and health staff, as was the case with Juarez Hospital in Mexico during the earthquake of 1985. (More)

Earthquake in Peru: The Myths Return

The earthquake that hit Peru on 15 August 2007 measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was 60 km from Pisco and 160 km south of Lima. There was damage in more than 20 provinces in southern Peru, especially the regions of Ica, Lima, and Huancavelica. The National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) reported that the death toll was 519; there were 1,211 people injured, and more than 300,000 affected. (More)

Maps to Show Wind Hazards

PAHO/WHO, together with Applied Research Associates, a North American institute, and participants from different Caribbean countries, has launched a project to make a map that shows wind hazards on Caribbean islands and along the Caribbean coasts of Central and South America. (More)

New Web Page for Disaster Preparedness in Central America

The Central American office for PAHO’s Area on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief launched a new web page, with comprehensive information about major emergencies in the region and related topics about disaster hazards and health. The page features risk and health profiles for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, that show the country’s situation in relation to risk management and health, together with socioeconomic indicators. (More)

CAPRADE PAHO/WHO Prepare New Guidelines on Humanitarian Assistance

The Andean Committee for Disaster Prevention and Response (CAPRADE) is planning the preparation of a new manual that will help with information, coordination, and administration of humanitarian assistance is case of disasters. (More)

LSS/SUMA in Bolivia, Peru and Nicaragua

The Logistics Support System (LSS/SUMA) was called on to manage humanitarian assistance in several emergencies, beginning with floods in Bolivia in early 2007, the earthquake in Peru, and during Hurricanes Dean and Felix. (More)

U.N.’s World Campaign for Risk Reduction in Schools Ends

On 10 October, the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) marked the end of its year-long campaign to reduce disaster risk in schools. Activities around the world celebrated the occasion. In the Region of the Americas, winners of the painting competitions held in schools were announced. (More)

U.N.’s Sasakawa Award

Tony Gibbs, an engineer of Grenadian and Barbadian nationality, and Yoshiaki Kawata, a Japanese professor, received the U.N. Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction on 10 October. The jury awarded the prize to both engineers for the contributions and commitment to disaster reduction in their own countries and internationally. Both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Kawata have been tireless in their promotion of disaster reduction and mitigation among scientists, journalists, policy makers, and the general public. (More)

Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management in the Caribbean

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), together with their partners, will host the second Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM), in Barbados on 10-14 December 2007. The event will use the motto of “The Changing Landscape of Caribbean Disaster Management—Vision Becoming Reality.”. (More)

Hurricane Dean Hits the Caribbean

Between 17 and 21 August 2007, Hurricane Dean moved across Caribbean islands, causing major damage. It was a Category 2 storm when it crossed Saint Lucia, Category 4 when it crossed the southern part of Jamaica, and the Belizean key islands endured winds reaching 165 km/h, or a Category 4 storm. There were more than 12 deaths on the islands of Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and in Mexico. Damage to the Lesser Antilles was not as severe as predicted. (More)

Hurricane Felix Lashes at Nicaragua

On 4 September 2007 the eye of Hurricane Felix crossed the north-east coast of Nicaragua bringing 260 km/h winds and torrential rains that devastated much of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). Most severely damaged were the coastal communities of Waspan, Puerto Cabezas, and Prinzapolka and the mining towns of Siuna, Bonanza, and Rosita. (More)

PAHO presents Health in the Americas 2007

PAHO/WHO has published the 2007 edition of Health in the Americas, a publication prepared every four years with the contribution of many experts from around the Region. This edition examines the Region’s progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, the unfinished agendas, the protection of health, the advances and emerging threats, as well as the national and international response and the future vision of health in the Region regarding the “Health Agenda for the Americas, 2008–2017. (More)

New Mental Health Guidelines Available

At their June 2007 meeting, the humanitarian assistance agencies forming the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) launched the Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. The Guidelines were reviewed by 27 participating agencies. The document lists the main steps for protecting and promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being of individuals. It covers treatment and care of people with severe disorders and providing immediate assistance for persons with critical problems. (More)

IStructE Prepares a Report on the Earthquake in Perú

A team comprised of three engineers, members of the Earthquake-Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT-IStructE), collected and analyized information from areas affected by the quake, and made observations to help in the reconstruction process. (More)

After the Tsunami–From Help to Recovery

WHO’s Regional Office for South-East Asia has published From Relief to Recovery–The WHO Tsunami Operation, a compendium of efforts carried out by the Organization to respond to the health needs that emerged after the tragedy, and which have become reference for emergency preparedness and response in that Region. (More)

OFDA Publishes Document on Risk Reduction

This document shows progress made in the formation and application of risk management from the environmental perspective, considering land use planning and public finance and investment as positive and effective contributions to sustaining development in the Region. (More)

Pan American Sanitary Conference Requests Countries to Build Safe Hospitals

In January 2008, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and the World Health Organization will launch the Global Campaign on Disaster Reduction whose theme is Hospitals Safe from Disasters. The Campaign will build on progress to date in Latin America and the Caribbean, and indeed in other regions of the world. (More)

CRID

The Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID)’s mission is to promote the development of a culture of prevention in Latin American and Caribbean countries through the compilation and dissemination of disaster-related information and the promotion of cooperative efforts to improve risk management in the Region. (More)