Wars

War is a unique type of disaster that brings a unique set of challenges to humanitarian responders. War was the catalyst for the development of organized emergency relief. The tactics of war constantly change, requiring humanitarian actors to adjust their response tactics to remain effective. War takes a tremendous human toll, especially among civilians. Because they are sparked from intense anger, self-interest, or tribalism, and often prosecuted with wanton brutality, conflicts result in a unique kind of deep emotional trauma that impedes a society's ability to move forward. Wars leave emotional scars for generations after the fighting ends.

When armed fighting occurs in countries already suffering from a previous disaster, the violence exacerbates problems such as displacement, lack of healthcare, lack of education, separation of families, ...