8. Early recovery

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recuperacion tempranaThe purpose of early recovery activities is to activate programs to meet humanitarian needs that go beyond the assistance provided in the initial stage of the emergency.

Although the humanitarian response should ensure that those affected have access to the care needed for survival and well-being, early recovery is important as a strategy to encourage the ability of the affected population and society at large to help themselves. Success on this front reduces the time needed for external intervention.

From the standpoint of the health sector, early recovery strategy calls for prompt reestablishment of essential services and for returning personnel to their usual tasks. To accomplish this, national authorities should plan early recovery strategies with the support of civil society, and frequently with support from the international humanitarian community as well, beginning in the early stages of the emergency. The approach should focus on creating a safe environment and on people’s being able to provide their own support as quickly as possible. That is why strengthening local capacity is one of the most critical and urgent aspects of early recovery.

The premise is that every disaster can be an opportunity for progress, and that recovery can be tackled with the idea of improving the situation to where conditions are better than those prevailing before the disaster by correcting the factors that caused and aggravated the disaster.

 

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