Citation

Entre Nous Cph. Den. 1998; (38): 9-10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Women's and Reproductive Health Unit, WHO Regional Office for Europe)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12222298

Abstract

The most vulnerable people in any society suffer the most during natural and manmade disasters. Women and newborn infants are among societies' most vulnerable. While, in many countries, women are poorly nourished and suffer high rates of reproductive health problems during the best of times, their level of vulnerability increases in times of war and disaster. Most of the world's refugees and displaced persons are women and children, with large numbers of women refugees being malnourished. Severe malnutrition in pregnant women causes fetal malnutrition, leading the newborn infant of a malnourished mother to be born underweight and open to stunted physical and mental development. While one cannot prevent suffering when war or disaster force people from their homes, the level of suffering can be mitigated through proper preparation and prompt reaction to disasters when they do occur. The appropriate steps to take to best manage an emergency are presented.

Language: en