Citation

Fussell E, Delp L, Riley K, Chávez S, Valenzuela A. Am. J. Public Health 2018; 108(12): 1617-1620.

Affiliation

Elizabeth Fussell is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Institute for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI. Linda Delp and Kevin Riley are with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, University of California, Los Angeles. Sergio Chávez is with the Sociology Department, Rice University, Houston, TX. Abel Valenzuela, Jr is with the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment and the Urban Planning Department, University of California, Los Angeles.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2018.304554

PMID

30359114

Abstract

This commentary highlights how immigrants who are linguistically isolated, have limited social networks, and lack legal immigration status experience unique health risks in disaster zones. Research on immigrants and disasters tends to focus on immigrants with these characteristics who are residents of disaster-affected areas, disaster recovery workers, or both. We review the sparse research literature and provide examples of innovative but underresourced programs that reduce immigrants' exposure to disaster-related health hazards and economic exploitation in the recovery. We conclude with recommendations for advancing these initiatives while, simultaneously, addressing the anti-immigrant policies that contribute to these disaster-related inequities. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 25, 2018: e1-e4. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304554).

Language: en