Humanitarian Crises: The Need for Cultural Competence and Local Capacity Building

摘要: Humanitarian crises are already causing significant suffering in many regions throughout the world, and climate change is likely to worsen problem. With rising temperatures, scientists predict an increase droughts floods, as well more severe tropical storms other adverse weather events such heat waves (IPCC, 2007). Such extreme can manifest natural disasters, which defined a “serious disruption of functioning community or society widespread human, material, economic environmental losses exceed ability affected cope using its own resources” (International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2004). emergencies, on hand, characterized by additional factors need external assistance, risks ongoing excess deaths, diseases, malnutrition (Office Coordination Affairs (OCHA), 1999). Complex humanitarian emergencies result from armed conflict, leading extensive violence loss life, massive displacement people, damage societies economies, large-scale, multifaceted hindrance assistance political military constraints security relief workers The extent be measured rates mortality, malnutrition, diseases (e.g. measles, cholera, diarrhea), breakdown governmental structures human rights abuses (Toole & Waldman, 1990). An has been recognized yet another change, with international communities working identifying areas high risk, adaptation mechanisms, responses. Issues mental health psychosocial well-being have received increasing consideration area crises, also implications context change. goal this chapter threefold: provide framework conceptualizing vulnerability at individual, community, country levels; shed light important challenges cross-cultural considerations field; explore ways psychologists professionals contribute responding promoting adaptation, building evidence base effective intervention.