International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Search :

Disaster management
About disasters 
Complex/manmade hazards: complex emergencies
Complex emergencies Civil unrest Complex emergencies | Definition and characteristics | Find out more
Complex emergencies

Some disasters can result from several different hazards or, more often, to a complex combination of both natural and man-made causes and different causes of vulnerability. Food insecurity, epidemics, conflicts and population movement are examples.

A humanitarian crisis in a country, region or society where there is total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from internal or external conflict and which requires an international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency and/or the ongoing UN country program (IASC).

Such “complex emergencies” are typically characterized by:

  • extensive violence and loss of life; massive displacements of people;
  • widespread damage to societies and economies;
  • the need for large-scale, multi-faceted humanitarian assistance ;
  • the hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by political and military constraints;
  • significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in some areas.

In this photo released by the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC workers pass boxes of aid supplies intended for southern Lebanon from one side of the Litani River to the other following Israeli bombardment, north of the port city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. The road was destroyed in Israeli bombardment early Monday essentially sealing the city from the rest of the country. Photo: Marko Kokic/ICRC (p-LBN0045)

Definition and characteristics


On a national level, conflict may involves warlike encounters between armed groups from the same country which take place within the boarders (borders). Such outbreaks of war may pose large-scale medical problems such as epidemics, lack of water, accumulation of rubbish, displaced persons, refugees, food shortage, hunger etc.

Internationally, war may break out between two or more armies from different countries. Similarly such conflict may cause large scale mass movements of refugees and displaced persons.

Within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the lead agency for response to war and conflict situations.

The ICRC mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.

For more information on the ICRC and their operations visit their web site: www.icrc.org.

Find out more


Related useful links:

Related Red Cross / Red Crescent operations:

Back to the top of the page
Home page
  Disaster management
Tsunami operation - Home page About disasters
    What is a disaster?
    What is vulnerability?
  Types of hazards
      Biological hazards
      Geophysical hazards
      Climatological hazards
      Hydrological hazards
      Meteorological hazards
      Technological hazards
    Complex/Manmade hazards
      Complex emergencies
        Famine/food insecurity
        Population movement
    Aggravating factors
    Forgotten disasters
  Reducing risk
  Preparing for disasters
  Responding to disasters
  Helping people to recover
  Partnering in disaster management
  Resources corner