Nutrition in Emergencies
DESCRIPTION
Major food shortages can be a primary feature of an emergency, as in droughts or floods that lead to famine, or they may be a consequence of war, economic disaster, or population displacement. The often-serious protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies that inevitably follow such shortages add greatly to the burden of disease and mortality, slow – or even impede altogether – socioeconomic recovery, and make intense additional demands on scarce resources.
On the basis of this critical situation, WHO, in partnership with UNITAR, has developed the e-learning course Nutrition in Emergencies.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the main risks generated by emergency situations with regards to nutrition;
- Identify the food and nutrition needs in emergencies;
- Use methods for assessment and surveillance of the nutritional status of the population in emergencies.
