Editorial
World Conference on Disaster Reduction - Kobe, Japan Safe Hospitals: what better indicator of overall disaster vulnerability reduction?

Vulnerability reduction depends on many factors and sectors. Although completely reducing a country’s overall vulnerability is not feasible by 2015, efforts and funds should be directed to improving critical social facilities where some degree of progress has been made since the Yokohama World Conference in 1994 and further success is within reach. The degree of protection built into the design of new health facilities is a sensitive indicator of political commitment to overall disaster reduction across sectors. (More)

Partnerships to Strengthen Disaster Reduction Activities in the Americas

PAHO/WHO has forged partnerships with three organizations—CARE, UNICEF, and the University of Geneva—for collaborative activities related to disaster reduction in the health sector. (More)

“Water and Disasters”
October 2 to Mark Inter-American Water Day

Each October since 1992, Latin America and the Caribbean have celebrated the Inter-American Water Day. This year, on October 2, the Region will borrow from the 2004 World Water Day, celebrated in March, with the theme “Water and Disasters.” (More)

What’s New at CRID?

If you haven’t visited the Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID) lately, some new features are waiting for you. (More)

Hurricane Season is Here!

The Atlantic Hurricane season officially started on 1 June. Some experts have predicted a season of above-average activity. (More)

University Commission for Disasters Sets Two-year Work Plan

The Central American University Commission for Disaster Education is made up of representatives from universities in all Central American countries. This group has been working for many years to strengthen the disaster curriculum of faculties of health-related disciplines and has been supported by PAHO in this process. (More)

Peru Approves Health Disaster Plan

The President of Peru has enacted into law a national Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Plan for the Health Sector, which establishes policies, strategic objectives and activities that the Ministry of Health, the Social Security System, the Armed Forces, the police and others must incorporate into their institutional plans. (More)

Flooding in Nicaragua

During the last week of June, a tropical wave produced heavy rains in Nicaragua, causing floods and extensive damage, particularly in the Autonomous Departments of the North and South along the country’s eastern Atlantic coast and in the Department of Matagalpa. (More)

Mobile Emergency Care Service in Brazil

The president of Brazil has signed a decree creating a Mobile Emergency Care Service, known as SAMU/192. SAMU/192 is a Ministry of Health service that forms part of the Brazilian government’s Emergency Care National Policy. (More)

Serious Flooding Impacts Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Beginning in late May, heavy rains and flooding affected an estimated 25,000 people in southeastern Haiti who were already living in dire conditions following the recent political crisis. The same heavy rains that affected Haiti raised the water level of the Jimaní River in the Dominican Republic; homes were swept away, utility lines cut and rescuers prevented from reaching the hardest-hit regions. (More)

Return to Happiness: Psychoaffective Recovery of Children Affected by Disasters and Armed Conflict

This manual, produced by UNICEF Colombia, provides a methodology for the psychosocial recovery of boys and girls who are or have been the victim of displacement due to violence. (More)

El Salvador Recovers — Health Sector Actions after Hurricane Mitch

El Salvador was one of the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch and over the last four years, has undertaken a significant number and variety of activities to reduce the health sector’s vulnerability to disasters. (More)

Manual on Risk Management System for Chemical Emergencies

CETESB, Brazil’s Institute for Science and Technology for Environmental Health and a WHO Collaborating Center, has prepared organizational development guidelines, including the structure necessary to design strategies to prevent, prepare and respond to chemical emergencies. (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)