The Regional Inter Agency Task Force on Risk, Emergency and Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean (REDLAC) has published the document “10 years after Hurricane Mitch: Overview of the trend in disaster risk management in Central America” In a straightforward and illustrative manner, the book sums up 10 years of efforts in the management of risk and disaster response as another contribution to progress in knowledge of the issue in Central America.

The publication is made up of three chapters: the first highlights the socio-economic characteristics of the Central American population during recent decades, the second includes information on processes which are part of risk management and development, and the third analyzes trends in sectoral indicators of risk management in the areas of education, food security, nutrition, health, water and sanitation and shelter. For more details visit www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc17237/doc17237.htm.

The World Health Organization has published the “Manual for the health care of children in humanitarian emergencies” which was drawn up through a global consultation process on the care of children in emergency situations, co-organized by WHO and UNICEF and initiated at the end of 2003. The manual includes aspects such as wounds, burns, neonatal illnesses, mental health, psychosocial support and preventive actions such as immunization, which are all considered a high priority in emergency situations and which had not been considered in existing publications on the topic. Each chapter summarizes the main forms of analysis and assistance. It is available at www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents/ 9789241596879/en/index.html.

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) has issued ISDR Terminology 2009, which promotes standardization in the use and definition of concepts relating to disaster reduction amongst authorities, professionals and the public in general. The new version is the result of a process of ongoing review and consultation between ISDR and experts in different regional and national fora. It includes words which are essential for contemporary understanding of risk reduction and new concepts which are not widely known, but which are taking on relevance; nevertheless, it excludes others which are commonly used in dictionaries.

The English version provides the basis and initial starting point for the preparation of versions in other languages. For more details, visit www.unisdr.org/eng/library/lib-terminology-eng.htm.

This publication contains papers presented at RISK 2008, the 6th International Conference on Computer Simulation Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation. The contributions range from specific risks to mitigation associated with both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Chapters include: estimation of risk; risk management; vulnerability; geomorphic risk; risk perception, network systems; climate change risks; hazard prevention, management and control; security in public places; transportation safety; and safe ship operations. Visit www.witpressusa.com/acatalog/9781845641047.html for more information.

This Peruvian publication is presented in the framework of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009: “Hospitals Safe from Disasters” with the aim of placing within the reach of health service operators a tool for the design of a medical-architectural program which contributes to the improvement of the quality of care and the reduction of hospital functional vulnerability.

The publication contains 21 chapters, the first two of which approach general concepts of planning and design which any health service worker must know. In the following chapters, each one of the main functional units which can be implemented depending on the guiding master plan, are described. For more information you can write to Celso Bambaren at cbambare@per.ops-oms.org.