| dc.description.abstract | There are differing types of refugee emergencies. While many can be life-threatening, the most important from an operational viewpoint is the
mass influx --the sudden arrival of thousands of people seeking safety
by crossing an international border. In these situations, the people have often been under armed attack and may bring their wounded with them. In many cases, the people have been without adequate food and water for some time and are undernourished and dehydrated. Sometimes, the refugees may have been exposed to (or carry) communicable diseases which, without proper immunization, could reach epidemic proportions.
It is here, in the response to a mass influx situation, that the international relief system often fails. In fact, the reasons are systemic, i.e., they are a result of the failure of the system as a whole rather than of the organizations that make up the system. Yet, many improvements are possible. By examining past operations more closely, recurring problems and patterns can be identified and specific approaches for meeting them can be developed. | en |
