The DPI/NGO Section invites you to an
NGO Briefing
on
The Psychological Impact of Natural Disasters
In Observance of the International Day for Mental Health
(10
October) & the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
(10 October)
on
11 October 2007
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
at the
Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium
Background Information:
In the recent years, the world has been plagued with various
disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis;
the latter claiming about 229,866 lives. Human vulnerability, exacerbated
by the lack of planning or lack of appropriate emergency management,
leads to financial, structural, and human losses. The resulting
loss depends on the capacity of the population to support or resist
the disaster, their resilience. Although victims may recover from
financial losses and other material losses, the psychological impacts
of natural disasters often have long lasting effects on the victims.
The briefing will look into the psychological impact of natural
disasters and how organizations and humanitarian agencies can help
survivors of natural disasters survive the trauma.
Speakers:
Dr. Gerard A. Jacobs, Director, Disaster Mental
Health Institute
Ms. Anne Cubilie, Policy & Guidance Management
Office, Policy Development & Studies Branch, United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Mr. Nassim Agazade, Critical Incident Stress Management
Unit, Department of Safety of Security, United Nations
Mr. Luis Alberto Amorós Nunez, Counsellor,
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations (invited)
A video from the “UN in the 21 Century”
series entitled, Aftershock: The Earthquake in Pakistan,
as well as two “UN in Action” videos, Nias Rebuilds
After Earthquake, and UN Project Aims to Prevent Loss of
Life When Natural Disasters Strike will be screened at 10:00
a.m. sharp
Representatives of NGOs are encouraged to participate during the
Q & A segment.
The event may be webcast. If so, it will be available
at www.un.org/dpi/ngosection.
Preview of Next Week’s Briefing:
Next week’s DPI/NGO Briefing entitled Linking Human Rights
and Poverty will be held in Observance of the International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
