Book Review...

ADPC Regional Programs...

Training and Education...

From Latin America...

Dear Readers,

The response to the previous issue of Asian Disaster Management News that focused on "Reconstruction after Disaster" was very encouraging. A number of our readers conveyed their appreciation to us. Some of the articles in the issue also provoked significant discussion with the authors. This is indeed the kind of role we would like this publication to play. We think of it as a newsletter of the disaster management community in the region. It provides you with an opportunity to share your views, experiences and dilemmas related to your work in disaster management. From the next issue onwards, we will include a readers' column for feedback from our readers. So, please write what you think to us about each issue. In addition to the print version, previous issues will also be available on-line at: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/infores/newsletter/newsletter.html

This current issue of the newsletter focuses on public health issues in disasters. We invited Dr. Rodger Doran to be our guest editor. He is a medical doctor, with many years of experience of working on public health issues with WHO and now working on disaster management issues. For us, he is a bridge between the public health and disaster management sectors. He provided invaluable guidance on the overall structure and content of this issue and contributed the lead article on public health, disasters and media. Our sincere thanks to him. In the Insight section, Dr. Claude de Ville writes about some common myths surrounding disasters. Monzu Morshed and Dr. Rasheduzzaman Shah capture some of the key public health issues faced in emergency shelters, whereas the article by Mihir Bhatt and Madhavi Ariyabandu outlines gender issues that need to be taken into account in times of public health crises. In the Bookmarks and World Wide Web Sites sections we have tried to give pointers to information on public health issues. We hope that this issue will be received as a useful information resource on public health issues in disasters.

The next issue will focus on the role of networking in disaster management. Three years ago, when we did an issue on the same theme, the lead article recognized the crucial role of networking in "building bridges across disciplines and within the broad spectrum of disaster management field, from prevention to response". At the same time, it recognized disaster management community as a "networking latecomer". A lot has happened in the last three years. A number of new national, regional and international networks have emerged. Some of the earlier networks have not worked. The role of information technology in networking activities has become increasingly important. What does it all mean for the disaster management sector in the region? In the next issue we shall review some of these issues. Should you have any suggestions, queries or articles to submit, please don't hesitate to drop us a line. The current issue was produced with editorial assistance from William Savage of AIT. Lolita Bildan provided valuable assistance in the production and circulation management of this issue.

Kamal Kishore

Tel: (66 2) 524 5378; Fax: (66 2) 524 5360