International Health Relief Assistance - A Guide for Effective Aid (PAHO, 1990, 14 p.): Effects of natural disasters on health

International Health Relief Assistance - A Guide for Effective Aid (PAHO, 1990, 14 p.)

		(introduction...)
		Preface
		Principles of disaster assistance
		After a disaster, do . . .
		Discourage sending . . .
		Consult further about donations of . . .
		Myths and realities of disasters
		Effects of natural disasters on health
		Pan American Health Organization

Effects of natural disasters on health

SHORT TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
DEATHS	MANY	FEW	VARIES	FEW
SEVERE INJURIES REQUIRING INTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE	OVERWHELMING	MODERATE	VARIES	FEW
INCREASED RISK OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE	POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN ALL MAJOR DISASTERS (Probability rises with overcrowding and deteriorating sanitation.)
FOOD SCARCITY	RARE	RARE	COMMON	COMMON
	(May occur due to factors other than food shortages.)
MAJOR POPULATION MOVEMENTS	RARE	RARE	COMMON	COMMON
	(May occur in heavily damaged urban areas.)

Source: Pan American Health Organization

Note: the effects of disasters on health may differ depending on the economic and political situation and the degree of the development of the infrastructure of an affected country.