Disaster and Humanitarian Relief

Jesus Christ predicted wars, rumors of wars, plagues, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes as signs of the end of the age.  Today, we often hear of sudden desolation and tragedy in developed and undeveloped areas of the world.  Readily accessible ambulances, medical staff, passable roads, clean

water, and food distribution are important immediate concerns.  However, disease prevention and emotional distress due to loss, disorientation, and dislocation create additional concerns.  Trainees receive practical training in planning for and implementing place-based disaster relief in such circumstances.  Trainees learn to plan for and respond proactively to coming calamities and crises.

The curriculum goes beyond this immediate response.  Recent history allows us to anticipate longer term impacts and need for humanitarian relief.  Attending to human needs in the aftermath – when relief workers have moved to another location – is required  to address the longer term impacts including disease burden, displacement, orphaned children, and increased interpersonal violence.  Additional training helps trainees to explore and develop potential solutions for humanitarian relief preparedness and continuing community redevelopment based on what we know.

Disaster and humanitarian relief may assume various foci depending on the location, nature of the disaster, availability and accessibility of resources, availability of aid, length and extent of the disaster and compounding factors, and both positive and negative impacts of aid.  While needs vary, these relief opportunities are unique moments to change the course of human lives, their spirits, their families, their communities, and their countries. Both immediate and proactive approaches are discussed.  Trainees are encouraged to develop proactive plans for implementation upon returning to the mission field as well as in their homes and faith communities.

Jesus Christ predicted warshurricane-sandy, rumors of wars, plagues, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes as signs of the end of the age.  Today, we often hear of sudden desolation and tragedy in developed and undeveloped areas of the world.  Readily accessible ambulances, medical staff, passable roads, clean water, and food distribution are important immediate concerns.  However, disease prevention and emotional distress due to loss, disorientation, and dislocation create additional concerns.  Trainees receive practical training in planning for and implementing place-based disaster relief in such circumstances.  Trainees learn to plan for and respond proactively to coming calamities and crises.

The curriculum goes beyond this immediate response.  Recent history allows us to anticipate longer term impacts and need for humanitarian relief.  Attending to human needs in the aftermath – when relief workers have moved to another location – is required  to address the longer term impacts including disease burden, displacement, orphaned children, and increased interpersonal violence.  Additional training helps trainees to explore and develop potential solutions for humanitarian relief preparedness and continuing community redevelopment based on what we know.

 

OTHER TOPICS:

[button_link url="http://gltc.info/christian-community-development-striving-for-whole-communities/"]CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT[/button_link]

[button_link url="http://gltc.info/public-health/"]INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH[/button_link]

[button_link url="http://gltc.info/subject-matter/environmental-sciences/"]ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES[/button_link]

Training Missionaries to Reach the Unreached