The Syrian Government’s Widespread and Systematic Use of Chemical Weapons
Radiation emergencies may be intentional (e.g., caused by terrorists) or unintentional. CDC provides some examples of different types of radiation emergencies and information what to do if a radiation emergency happens in your area.
If a radiation emergency happens in your area, you should get inside immediately.
No matter where you are, the safest action to take is to: GET INSIDE. STAY INSIDE. STAY TUNED.
Make sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency. Before an emergency happens, sit down together and decide how
you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in
your emergency supply kit or another safe place wher...e you can access it in the event of a disaster.
more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide information about radiation emergencies for the public and professionals.
Are you prepared? If a disaster strikes in your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for several days. Preparing an emergency kit for your family is an important step in keeping them safe and healthy during an emergency.
A chemical release may not always be immediately apparent given the fact that many agents are odourless and colourless, and some cause no immediately noticeable effects or symptoms. Be alert to the possible presence of a chemical.
Arabic version available: http://www.who.int/environmental_health_e...mergencies/deliberate_events/warning_signs_May2017_ar.pdf
more
After a radiation emergency, pregnant women should follow instructions from emergency officials and seek medical attention as soon as emergency officials say it is safe to do so.
This infographic contains information about external contamination, internal contamination and radiation exposure.
The Radiation Injury Treatment Network® (RITN) provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for victims of radiation exposure or other marrow toxic injuries.
The goals of RITN are:
1. to develop treatment guidelines for managing hematologic toxicity among victims of radiation exposure,
2. to... educate health care professionals about pertinent aspects of radiation exposure management,
3. to help coordinate the medical response to radiation events, and
4. to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for victims at participating centers.
more
Reducing the humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is a key priority for the United
Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), civil society and an increasing number of Member States.
The United Nations Secretary-General has expressly called on... parties to conflict to avoid the use in populated areas of
explosive weapons with wide-area effects.
While the use of explosive weapons in populated areas may in some circumstances be lawful under international
humanitarian law (IHL), empirical evidence reveals a foreseeable and often widespread pattern of harm to civilians,
particularly from explosive weapons with wide-area effects.
Many types of explosive weapons exist and are currently in use. These include air-delivered bombs, artillery projectiles,
missiles and rockets, mortar bombs, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Some are launched from the air and
others are surface launched. Whilst different technical features dictate their accuracy of delivery and explosive effect,
these weapons generally create a zone of blast and fragmentation with the potential to kill, injure or damage anyone
or anything within that zone. This makes their use in populated areas – such as towns, cities, markets and camps for
refugees and displaced persons or other concentrations of civilians – particularly problematic. The problems increase
further if the effects of the weapon extend across a wide-area either because of the scale of blast that they produce; their
inaccuracy; the use of multiple munitions across an area; or a combination thereof.
more
This is the 19th annual Landmine Monitor report. It is the sister publication to the Cluster Munition Monitor report, first published in November 2010.
Landmine Monitor 2016 provides a global overview of the landmine situation. Chapters on developments in specific countries and other areas are ava...ilable in online Country Profiles at www.the-monitor.org/cp.
Landmine Monitor covers mine ban policy, use, production, trade, and stockpiling, and also includes information on contamination, clearance, casualties, victim assistance, and support for mine action. The report focuses on calendar year 2015, with information included up to November 2016 when possible.
more
CHEMM Intelligent Syndromes Tool (CHEMM-IST) is an online decision support system for hazardous materials incidents assessing the possibility of 7 syndromes based on questions about the patients physical state. Includes quick links to medical guidelines.
ext. Homepage, accessed 29/03/2018
States, the United Nations and civil society organisations continue to raise concerns about the humanitarian impact caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). This issue is currently being examined from political, legal, socio-economic and humanitarian perspectives. The GICHD... has undertaken research to provide a technical perspective on the destructive effects of selected explosive weapons to inform the international debate.
The research project attempts to reduce an observed knowledge gap regarding EWIPA. It seeks to provide clarity concerning the immediate physical effects and terminology used when discussing explosive weapons. The project is guided by a group of experts dealing with weapons-related research and practitioners who address the implications of explosive weapons in humanitarian, policy, advocacy and legal fields.
more
