Disaster risk management for health: mass fatalities/dead bodies

Disaster Risk Management for Health Fact Sheets:

This fact sheet about mass fatalities/dead bodies in disaster risk reduction for health is divided into four sections: i) Key points ii) Why is this important? iii) What are the health risks? iv) Risk management considerations.

Mass fatalities/dead bodies key points: the health risk to the general public following natural disasters is negligible; capacity is needed to recover, identify, store and dispose of the large number of dead bodies that may arise in an emergency; the psychosocial wellbeing of the living is important: survivors, relatives and the wider community that the dead are managed with dignity and respect; good communication on the management of arrangements; awareness of ethical, religious and cultural sensitivities is important; exposure of civilian population to chemical, biological and radiological agents is an increasing hazard.