Table 3.

Ten critical emergency relief measures

• Rapidly assess the health status of the affected population

• Establish disease surveillance and a health information system

• Immunise all children aged 6 months to 5 years against measles and provide vitamin A to those with malnutrition

• Institute diarrhoea control programmes

• Provide elementary sanitation and clean water

• Provide adequate shelters, clothes, and blankets

• Ensure at least 1900 kcal of food per person per day

• Establish curative services with standard treatment protocols based on essential drug lists that provide basic coverage to entire community

• Organise human resources to ensure one community health expert per 1000 population

• Coordinate activities of local authorities, national agencies, international agencies, and non-governmental organisations