Vulnerable groups

Vulnerability is the degree to which a population, individual or organization is unable to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impacts of disasters. Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: a practical guide. (WHO, 2002)

Children, pregnant women, elderly people, malnourished people, and people who are ill or immunocompromised, are particularly vulnerable when a disaster strikes, and take a relatively high share of the disease burden associated with emergencies. Poverty – and its common consequences such as malnutrition, homelessness, poor housing and destitution – is a major contributor to vulnerability.

The following resources deal specifically with the environmental health issues affecting vulnerable groups.

Key resources

WHO

• Children's health and the environment - a global perspective.A resource manual for the health sector (2005)
  Section 2, chapter 6. When the child is under extreme stress
• How to address psychosocial reactions to catastrophe
• WHO resources on mental health in emergencies

Related sites

WHO

• Child and adolescent health and development
• Children's environmental health
• Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA)
• Human rights
• Mental health

non-who

• CARE international
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• International Pediatric Association
• OXFAM
• Save the Children
• UNICEF