Disasters, both natural and human-made, can affect every community. During and in the wake of a disaster, people suffer - in silence or in the public eye, but always in a state of uncertainty and sometimes despair.
Communities are particularly vulnerable when local and national systems, specifically health systems, are unable to cope with the consequences of a crisis. This may be because they are overwhelmed by a sudden increase in demand or because the institutions that underpin them are weak and cannot deliver what is expected from them.

Crises can be triggered by:

• sudden catastrophic events - such as earthquakes, floods and industrial accidents;
• complex and continuing emergencies - including violent conflict, population displacement or dramatic political change;
• slow onset processes - such as the gradual breakdown of a country's social institutions due to economic decline, environmental pollution or degradation, or the impact of an evolving pandemic.

While disasters are often unpredictable, the damage and loss they cause can be mitigated or in part prevented. The WHO Regional Office for Europe works closely with Member States and international and national partners to help communities prepare for disasters, deal with their health consequences and mitigate their long-term effects.