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Actions of the World Health Organizations (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) in Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

S. William A. Gunn
Affiliation:
Head, Emergency Relief Operations, World Health Organization, Ave. Appia, 1211 Geneva 27,Switzerland. (Telephone 22-912777.)

Extract

In essence, the United Nations Organization was born out of disaster to avert disaster. Be they the work of nature or of man, catastrophic emergencies are not rare occurrences and all studies indicate that they are increasing in frequency and severity.

Within the international community, the UN and its component organizations is only one of the three principal partners in disaster relief. The other are the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) – including the Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGS) – and the bilateral donor countries. Collaboration among these sectors is vital if international action is to be effective.

This article deals with the UN System only, and in particular with the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in disaster relief and preparedness.

Type
Part III: International Organizations - Planning - Disaster Events
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1985

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