Emergency preparedness and response

Preamble: The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is experiencing an unprecedented number of major emergencies and crises which impose a huge burden on the affected countries However, the level of emergency preparedness and the capacity for crisis response and recovery remain low, especially with regard to the health sector (among other society sectors). A lack of adequate preparedness for emergencies, leaves communities unprotected and vulnerable to the wide range of health risks such situations can generate, with potentially devastating consequences. It was therefore important to raise this issue at the Sixty-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in October 2014 and this technical discussion paper (EM/RC61/Tech.Disc.2 Rev.1) reproduced below served to highlight the need for Member States to enhance their national capacity to manage emergency risks and consolidate their humanitarian response.