Systematizing emergency health management 2005-2007: the emergency and humanitarian action programme of WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia

Clearly, in terms of disasters, the South-East Asia Region has been particularly hard-hit in the recent past. The earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004, which affected more than six countries of this part of the world, was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. Recovery efforts are still on today, more than two and half years after the waves swept the shorelines of the region. The earthquake in Yogyakarta, floods in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Nepal, and regular monsoon events in countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar emphasize that there are risks and hazards to contend with regularly. The booklet Systematizing Emergency Health Management 2005-2007 highlights key events and developments in the Emergency and Humanitarian Action programme in the last three years, and outlines the strategic directions of the programme in the coming years.