Earthquakes: Essential lessons for humanitarian responders

This essential briefing is a summary of the ALNAP Lessons Paper: Responding to Earthquakes published in February 2019 (see recommended resources). In fragile or developing states, large earthquakes can turnback the development clock by years or even decades. It isimpossible to eradicate earthquakes, but we can prepareand learn from past experiences to strengthen thehumanitarian response and to ‘build back better’. These essential lessons draw from previous post-earthquake humanitarian responses, covering: debrismanagement, shelter, health, livelihoods and economicrecovery, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education,food security, nutrition and protection.