Support for rescue workers could improve

An improvement of organizational support for rescue workers in crisis situations could lead to better aid, PhD research by Willem Mhuren points out.

In his study Muhren wonders how social workers in crisis situations can become aware of what is going on. He interviewed rescue workers who have worked in conflict situations in Congo and Gaza, and who have been fighting the forest fires in Portugal. According to Muhren, an improvement of organizational structures, procedures and information technologies can help in rescuing workers more efficiently and effectively.

During major disasters international aid is often coordinated by the UN. Besides search-and-rescue operations, teams of crisis workers try to make an inventory, a so-called assessment, of the disaster’s scale and the need for relief in the affected areas – as soon as possible.

Muhren got important information out of these aid assessments. They showed that rescue teams that seek information often can not agree on the nature and interpretation of the information. [EV/transl. YV]

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