Acknowledgements

This manual is the result of a lengthy process of research, consultation, and writing. WHO collaborated with a number of organizations during this process, including the International Civil Defense Organisation and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Several experts contributed to elaborating the concepts included in the text and many others reviewed it and helped finalize its content. Dr S. Ben Yahmed, formerly Chief of Emergency Preparedness at WHO, developed the idea for the manual and coordinated the effort, which greatly benefited from the contributions and advice of Dr R. Doran (formerly, Division of Emergency and Humanitarian Action, WHO) and Professor E. Quarantelli (University of Delaware).

Contributions were also made by WHO’s regional offices and by the WHO divisions responsible for such areas as operational support in environmental health, nutrition, communicable diseases, and mental health.

Special acknowledgement is due to: Mr M. Tarrant (Australian Emergency Management Institute) and Mr B. Dutton (Disaster Management Consultants International) for managing the development of the hazard analysis process that formed the basis of Chapter 3, Vulnerability assessment; the Disaster Management Consultants International team for technical editing; Mr J. Lunn, Mr B. Dutton, Mr W.A. Dodds, and Mr G. Marsh for developing the planning process that formed the basis of Chapter 4, Emergency planning; and Mr P. Koob (Disaster Management Consultants International) for writing the manual.