WHO provides emergency support to national health authorities and health sector partners to protect the health of survivors and other vulnerable people affected by a disaster.   Before an emergency, WHO is present in countries helping governments and health partners prepare for emergencies by providing technical expertise, training and capacity building, helping to develop policy and plans, and providing equipment and supplies to build effective national disaster preparedness programmes and capacity with a focus on health.

When an emergency strikes, WHO acts on the ground by assessing and monitoring the health of people affected by crises, mobilising technical expertise, providing life-saving medical and health supplies, supporting coordination of health sector partners, ensuring that response plans address important public health issues, and ensuring local systems and capacity are strengthened for crises response and recovery. In the aftermath of an emergency, WHO provides expertise and resources to ensure that equitable, improved and sustainable health systems and services are put in place during transition and recovery.

The Health Action in Crises (HAC) department supports the WHO global emergency relief activities bringing together WHO's global, regional and country teams and harnessing its networks of experts throughout the world. Through the work of its Health Action in Crises programme, WHO aims to reduce avoidable loss of life, burden of disease and disability among populations affected by crises, emergencies and disasters, to optimise health at times of post-crises transition, and to contribute to recovery and development. Learn more about WHO’s Health Action in Crises.