85. The Psychosocial Impact of Humanitarian Crises – a better understanding for better interventions

In this document, Action Contra la Faim describe the different crises situations in which ACF intervenes: natural disasters, conflicts, totalitarianism and extremism. They introduce the specific psychosocial impact on communities, families and children for each crisis situation.

Responding to such crises situations involves a complex operational response, addressing psychosocial dimension. For this reason, and to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian programmes and responses, it is essential that field workers understand the social and psychological impact of different types of humanitarian crisis on populations.

An understanding of this aspect can thus support that such a component be integrated into ACF operational responses.

Go to: http://www.actioncontrelafaim.org/en/content/psychosocial-impact-humanitarian-crises-better-understanding-better-interventions

84. Action contre la Faim (ACF) – in action after disasters and conflicts

Action contre la Faim (ACF) was founded by a group of prominent French figures in response to the emergency caused by Afghan refugees fleeing to Pakistan to escape fighting in 1979, with the aim of eradicating hunger in a more global, lasting and effective way worldwide.

ACF's mission consists of saving lives via the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, in particular during and following disasters and conflicts. The organisation focuses its activities on an integrated approach, taking various aspects into account:

Nutrition, health and healthcare practices
Food security and livelihoods
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Advocacy and awareness-raising

Go to: http://www.actioncontrelafaim.org/en/content/history

83. Military Intervention Decisions Regarding Humanitarian Crises: Framing Induced Risk Behavior

Abstract: Factors that may affect public support or opposition to U.S. military intervention in humanitarian crises around the world are examined to determine the impact of foreign policy frames on individual risk propensity.

The source of the foreign policy frames, type of humanitarian crisis, location of the crisis and race/ethnicity/religion of the endangered population, tolerable ratios of U.S. lives saved/lost to foreign citizens saved/lost, and probability of casualty-free success are also investigated.

By William A. Boettcher, Department of Political Science and Public Administration North Carolina State University

Go to: http://jcr.sagepub.com/content/48/3/331.short

82. Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings: linking practice and research – a review

Abstract: This review links practice, funding, and evidence for interventions for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in humanitarian settings. We studied practice by reviewing reports of mental health and psychosocial support activities (2007–10); funding by analysis of the financial tracking service and the creditor reporting system (2007–09); and interventions by systematic review and meta-analysis.

In 160 reports, the five most commonly reported activities were basic counselling for individuals (39%); facilitation of community support of vulnerable individuals (23%); provision of child-friendly spaces (21%); support of community-initiated social support (21%); and basic counselling for groups and families (20%).

Most interventions took place and were funded outside national mental health and protection systems. 32 controlled studies of interventions were identified, 13 of which were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that met the criteria for meta-analysis. Two studies showed promising effects for strengthening community and family supports. Psychosocial wellbeing was not included as an outcome in the meta-analysis, because its definition varied across studies.

In adults with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), meta-analysis of seven RCTs showed beneficial effects for several interventions (psychotherapy and psychosocial supports) compared with usual care or waiting list (standardised mean difference [SMD] −0.38, 95% CI −0.55 to −0.20). In children, meta-analysis of four RCTs failed to show an effect for symptoms of PTSD (−0.36, −0.83 to 0.10), but showed a beneficial effect of interventions (group psychotherapy, school-based support, and other psychosocial support) for internalising symptoms (six RCTs; SMD −0.24, −0.40 to −0.09).

Overall, research and evidence focuses on interventions that are infrequently implemented, whereas the most commonly used interventions have had little rigorous scrutiny.

By Wietse A Tol, Corrado Barbui, Ananda Galappatti, Derrick Silove, Theresa S Betancourt, Renato Souza, Anne Golaz, and Mark van Ommeren

Go to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3985411/