The consequences of disasters and conflicts represent a major public health and development issue, and consequently WHO has defined disaster reduction as core area of its work.

In recent years, as natural and human-induced disasters have become more frequent and more severe, WHO's role as lead UN agency for health related aspects of emergencies has expanded considerably.

In WHO's South East Asia region, the Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA) programme took wing about three years ago.

At the regional and global levels WHO's overall focus is on the development of emergency surveillance systems in response to disasters and emergencies.Capacity building is undertaken through training programmes and publications based on best public health practice in emergencies.

Learning from previous disasters is important to improve emergency preparedness and management and to identify the population and geographical areas at risk.

In India, when the state of Orissa was hit by a series of cyclones, including a supercyclone in October 1999, it caused severe damage in 14 of the 30 districts. Over 15 million people were seriously affected. WHO was a key member of the Assessment team to Orissa where it provided technical support in the initial rapid health sector assessment. The Government of Orissa and the UN system are working together to address some key issues in the area of agriculture and food security in the post- cyclone scenario. A time bound action plan has emerged from the discussions held on May 1, 2000.World Food Programme is committed to mitigating and preventing emergencies and their consequences on human lives like famine related death, starvation and nutrition deficiencies.

The rapid response capacity, information system and local knowledge through its regular country presence has helped WFP to assist in disaster situations such as flooding in Bangladesh, China, Somalia and the devastating hurricane that hit Central America.

WFP's response to disaster in India has been quite limited. WFP helps government efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by sudden food shortfall and promote early recovery by working in the most natural disaster and drought prone states particularly Rajasthan, Assam, UP and Bihar where food crisis repeatedly occur.

WFP closely collaborates with other partners for rapid and effective response to emergency sitations.

As an immediate response to the country's worst cyclone, which hit Orissa WFP provided 250 MT of high protein biscuits. In addition to this, WFP provided approximately 2000 MT of food including 500 MT of a highly nutritious infant food called Indian mix specially targeted for young children and 1500 MT of rice.

Total worth of these commodities was around $7,00,000.

Additionally, the Government of India and WFP have signed an agreement for three million dollars for the rehabilitation phase of the cyclone affected districts, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara in Orissa.

Through this agreement, WFP will provide 8341 MT of food items including rice, pulse, blended food and vegetable oil. This phase will be implemented in collaboration with the department of women and child development and various non-governmental organisation.

WFP's regular food for work activities in India contribute to drought prevention. Activities include creation of water harvesting structures which have a major role to play in raising the ground water level.

Meanwhile UNESCO has also been involved in a series of training programme which related directly or indirectly to natural disasters.

The author is a manager State Bank of Patiala, Chandigarh