0712 global ODI NP61 Public health in crisis-affected populations A practical guide for decision-makers

Humanitarian action and ECHO's aim is to save lives, alleviate suffering and preserving dignity during crisis. Mortality (rate of death) and morbidity (rate of disease) can increase well beyond usual levels with certain risks and situations and decreases with a number of interventions. Impact of an intervention is the product of it's effectiveness by it's coverage. The public health impacts of disasters and crises are direct (e.g. death from violence and injury) or indirect (e.g. increased rates of infectious diseases and/or acute malnutrition).

The situations that are frequently associated with a higher risk of mortality particularly in tropical or very poor settings are:

• Overcrowding and/or displacement.
• Poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions.
• Insufficient nutrient intake.
• Inadequate shelter.
• Epidemics.
• Breakdown of vaccination and health services.
• Lack of and/or delay in treatment.
• High exposure to and/or proliferation of disease vectors.
• Warfare among combatants and armed attacks against civilians.

 The structure/index of this database that tags ECHO health documents mirrors the areas of interventions that mitigate excess mortality and morbidity, mostly as described by this paper