In
times of emergency, the International Federation
is ready to respond and provides quick and effective health
relief. Health response aims to fill temporary gaps in basic
health care services that are caused by damaged and often
overloaded health care systems in the affected countries.
The focus is on community health care,
supported by basic clinics. Referral hospitals (field hospitals)
can carry out emergency surgery and deal with gynaecological
and obstetric complications. Paediatric care, treatment of
infectious diseases and Maternal and Child health care are
particularly important considerations in times of emergency.
Many disasters generate large population displacements and
can spread outbreaks of measles and other infectious diseases.
The Red Cross Red Crescent employs standards laid down by
the World Health Organization (WHO) with regard to treatment
of patients and selection of essential drugs. It also applies
technical standards as outlined by the Sphere
Project's
humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disaster response.
All Federation emergency operations and management tools adapt
to these standards, including Field Assessment and Coordination
Teams, Emergency Response Units and the process for designing
emergency appeals for funding operations.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes strike with no early warning and can be devastating.
Quakes are measured according to the Richter scale - the most
devastating effects are seen on level 6 and above, and if
the epicentre of the earthquake is located in highly populated
areas. Earthquakes can cause high numbers of deaths and injuries
as well as serious destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
When earthquakes hit, local Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers
carry out search and rescue - this is more effective than
rescue teams who are flown in from abroad as these teams generally
arrive too late. High numbers of seriously injured people
may require surgery within 48-72 hours, after that little
lifesaving surgery can be done.
After an earthquake, the Federation response concentrates
on relief and shelter, water and sanitation, basic health
care and field hospitals. Psychological support should always
be addressed, as well as possible tracing mechanisms for reuniting
families. 
Earthquakes require substantial rehabilitation
efforts and the Federation plays a vital role not only in
providing support for community health and basic health care,
but also by helping strengthen disaster preparedness and capacity
building for the National Society.
Cyclone/high winds
Cyclones and high winds can be predicted several days in advance.
The onset is extensive and often very destructive. Serious
flooding often follows cyclones and high winds and complicates
matters further. Infrastructure can collapse in poor areas
and crops are often destroyed.
During these disasters, Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers
often make heroic efforts, saving many lives. The Federation
response concentrates on relief and shelter, water and sanitation,
basic health care and field hospitals. Psychological support
should always be addressed, as well as possible tracing mechanisms.
The risk for epidemics such as cholera, malaria and dengue
becomes high after two to three weeks, and all possible preventative
measures are taken.
Rehabilitation is always considered after this type of disaster
as needs may continue for many years.
Floods
Floods can be predicted in advance, except in the case of
flash floods. The impact of flooding can include destruction
of housing, crops, cattle and people. Volunteers assist well
in the early days of these situations, helping to move people
around and save belongings. Floods pose specific challenges
for relief health as sometimes vast areas of land are covered
with water, making coordination very difficult. Organising
logistics, transport and distribution of relief goods is complicated,
since the country's infrastructure is often damaged.
There are usually two phases following flood disasters. During
the first phase, people crowd on patches of high, safe ground,
together with cattle and other animals, even snakes and scorpions.
Drinking water is often very difficult to find and sanitation
is terrible.
During the second phase, people start to move back to their
homes as soon as possible. This is often a prolonged process
(certain areas dry up quicker than others) and once home,
people face new challenges including destroyed water systems,
wells and bore holes that need cleaning up and disinfecting.
A couple of weeks after the flood, high risks for epidemics
like cholera, malaria and dengue emerge.
The Federation response adjusts to meet the needs of each
specific circumstance, during the two phases and into rehabilitation.
Mobile clinics can be used successfully, and additional efforts
are concentrated on water and sanitation in particular, along
with shelter, distribution of emergency food supply, basic
health care and field hospitals.
Refugees/population movements
Population movements usually escalate slowly but fast large-scale
population movements have been seen in the last decade, for
example, the Great Lakes in 1994 and tha Balkan. When population
movements occur, initially teams determine whether those moving
are refugees, economic migrants, internally displaced people
or asylum seekers. This needs to be identified since support
mechanisms and the legal status of the people can affect the
response operation.
Population movements demand comprehensive relief support.
Camps can house more than 200,000 people - involving many
non-governmental organisations working together - or can be
smaller, sheltering 20-30,000 people, in which case they are
often managed by one or two organisations (such as the Federation).
The Red Cross Red Crescent response provides for the whole
health care spectrum and follows district health care norms,
with provision of public health care covering most primary
health care elements. Much focus is on community health, using
Health Information Teams (HIT), small clinics and a competent
referral system.
Reproductive Health and Psychological Support programmes become
more and more prominent during these types of disaster and
are now integrated components in Federation programmes. Many
refugee operations tend to last for decades and a "slimlined"
operational approach is often needed - this is more or less
dictated by donor fatigue.
Post conflict
It is often not entirely clear when a conflict has come to
an end but nevertheless, the International Federation intervenes
as early as possible after the conflict to support National
Societies. Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan are recent examples
of such countries that needed post-conflict support.
Health needs are nearly always great in post-conflict situations.
The Red Cross Red Crescent response upholds the district health
care norms, focusing on basic health care, public health,
and immunisation programmes. The Federation often focuses
on how to sustain programmes, upgrade human resources and
standardise approaches, treatments and essential drugs.
Famine/nutritional emergencies
Famine and nutritional emergencies can happen quite suddenly.
The Federation carries out a lot of food distribution in these
situations. Occasionally the Federation carries out supplementary
feeding, targeting certain vulnerable groups suffering from
poor nutrition. This often includes women who are pregnant
or breast-feeding and children under the age of five.
Humanitarian
Aspects of Technological disasters
The Federation has more of an advocacy/information sharing
role and does not involve itself with the technical aspects,
e.g. cleaning up, irradiation sickness or (advanced) treatment
of people, which have been exposed. Sixteen years on, the
Federation is still running a programme
to assist victims of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion
of 1986, providing medical assistance and check-ups, and psycho-social
support.
Chemical and Biological warfare (CBW)
The Federation provides basic information about symptoms and
effects of agents, antidotes and protection.
Again, National Societies and the Federation take care of
people displaced or fleeing from chemical or biological attacks,
providing shelter, food, basic medical care, water and sanitation.
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