In the feature article “Understanding Complex Humanitarian Emergencies in the Horn of Africa: Causes, Determinants, and Responses,” the author, Daniel Chacreton, explains how complex emergencies are formed and how they affect the citizens within.

War between Ethiopia and Somalia led to pause in the governments and living situations of the country. This war led the civilians out of their country that they called home, causing complex emergencies. These innocent people were led out of their due to the declining of economy, health, and the government. Refugees of Somalia began increasing greater than ever. Not only did the war between Ethiopia and Somalia lead to destruction of their countries, so did Ethiopia and Eritrea. Politics affected their countries in many ways. The government was in favor of the war and not the people, “Politics is possibly the largest causative factor when it comes to complex emergencies. At times, government officials, in both developed and developing nations, can act in their personal or ideological best interest and not in that of their citizens” (Chacreton, 2013).

These wars not only had negative effects on the population, but also on resources, “The destruction of infrastructure, the loss of human capital, and the reallocation of funds from development projects to defense spending, all have negative effects on the population” (Chacreton, 2013). Without the necessary resources of health, government, and the economy, the country becomes a complex emergency. When these crisis or complex emergencies occur, malnutrition is commonly an end result. Refugees have a high rate of malnutrition due to limit nutrition provided. Refuges often have Vitamin C deficiencies, which cause a number of health problems. These serious problems that can arise from food and resource insecurity explains why it is one of the most important determinants to the outcome of complex emergencies” (Chacreton, 2013). Prolonged worse and the course of complex emergencies play a huge role on health and mortalities rates of their citizens.

To resolve these complex emergencies, food, water and shelter need to be in place. Health needs to also be initiated, including medical, dental, mental, and women’s healthcare. Preventable diseases and deaths needs to be stopped in their place. The rate of the saddened situations has become so high, initiatives need to be established, “The primary, and often, goal of many complex emergency responses is to limit the immediate morbidity and mortality associated with these events” (Chacreton, 2013). As a healthcare provider, how can you prevent infections and diseases to refugees during a complex emergency? What resources do you need?

Resources

Chacreton, D. (2013). Understanding Complex Humanitarian Emergencies in the. Journal of Global Health Perspectives, 1-11. Retrieved March 24, 2019