Articles

The aftermath of emergencies and disasters can produce psychosocial disturbances that sometimes exceed a population’s capacity to manage or cope. The victims themselves are not the only ones affected. Health workers, search and rescue groups and other first responders, volunteers, and others who assist in response efforts also are often subjected to an enormous emotional burden in carrying out their tasks.

Many populations with special needs require pre-established measures to lessen the impact of disasters and emergencies. Developing Due to the amount of preparation that they require, most of these measures should be defined and prepared for in normal times. They also require active participation by family members and community. In disaster situations, care should be taken to treat people with special needs in the differentiated ways called for, namely:

• Persons with visual disabilities: Ensure that they receive guidance, and facilitate their access to safety and assistance. Remember that it may be necessary to include guide dogs in assistance plans.

In disaster situations, the priority is to provide food rapidly to address critical needs that may arise in isolated populations, institutions, hospitals, temporary shelters, or other situations. For this purpose:

In disaster situations, societies can undergo disorganization and a weakening of the social standards that regulate behavior, creating situations where people are more exposed to HIV/AIDS. In addition, poor living conditions and difficulty in accessing services are factors that increase the vulnerability of people who are already carriers.