Understand the needs in the health cluster

There are a number of different disasters / emergencies in which the health of a population may be affected, including:

• War / conflict / violence

• Natural disasters

• Disease outbreaks

• Or a combination of the above

In the first instance the primary focus of a response may be on the immediate risk to life, as the response develops it is important to understand:

• The determinants of health - the population’s vulnerability before the incident

• The health system - the national healthcare delivery system and any disruption it is facing

• Profiles of morbidity / mortality - any endemic and emerging disease (existing and recently appearing disease) that can be both communicable and non-communicable disease (infectious and non-infectious)

• Emergency Medical Teams - any surge capacity being provide to the healthcare system