Virtual Health Library for Disasters

English, Spanish and French

An electronic collection of more than 500 public health publications on disaster reduction and complex emergencies in full text.

Countries in Crisis

4 minutos

This DVD presents the principal aspects that Latin American countries should consider in preparing for, responding to and mitigating the effects of natural disasters. It also states the primary difficulties related to the humanitarian assistance, both regarding supplies and logistical elements, and voluntary medical staff.

Transparency is Not a One-Way Street

To increase transparency and accountability the UN should step up consultation with national experts in the early planning stage as well as during the implementation of a relief operation.

Humanitarian Supply Management and Logistics in the Health Sector

Clear and practical guidelines on the logistics of humanitarian supply management. It describes proper handling of supplies at each level of the logistics "chain." Some procedures are based on standards adopted by international organizations involved in disaster response; others are the product of experience gained in the field.

SUMA: The PAHO/WHO Supply Management System

The enormous quantity of donations sent to countries hit by major disasters often overwhelms national authorities, causing logistical and administrative nightmares. SUMA is a supply management system that attempts to make order out of the chaos caused by poorly coordinated humanitarian assistance efforts. This brochure outlines how SUMA works, its history and future prospects.