ABSTRACT
Disasters disrupt the functioning of communities, involving widespread human, health, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts. Disasters may result from natural or man-made causes, and have serious implications for health (including deaths, injuries, infectious diseases, chemical contamination and psychosocial effects) (UNISDR, 2015). Disasters, by definition, are events that exceed the ability of the affected community to cope using its own resources. The health effects that occur will depend on the type of disaster, where the disaster took place and the population’s capacity to cope.
