This document highlights the advantages of the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a responsive and useful index of the nutritional status of the adult in a community. After defining chronic energy deficiency, the authors examine the following issues:

 - BMI as a reflection of body energy stores
 - BMI as an indicator of CED
 - BMI and factors affecting access to food
 - Functional consequences of low BMI in adults
 - Health and BMI
 - BMI distribution in developed and developing countries

Serving as a valuable nutrition monitoring

Aiming to increase awareness of the nature and management of disasters and consequently enhance the performance in disaster preparedness and response, this document examines various aspects of disaster assessment. Its four parts provide the following information:

- An overview of disaster assessment
- Practical insights on conducting assessments
- Role of the UN in relation to assessments
- Preparedness planning for emergency assessment

Designed for UN organization professionals who form disaster management teams, government counterpart agencies, NGOs

These guidelines define the goals and objectives, the principles and practical measures for the protection and assistance of refugee children. The book contains the following chapters:

- Refugee children and the rights of the child
- Culture
- Psychosocial well-being
- Health and nutrition
- Prevention and treatment of disabilities
- Personal liberty and security
- Legal status
- Education
- Unaccompanied children
- Durable solutions
- Operational framework

The book was written for UNHCR's staff,

In FY 1993, OFDA responded to 65 new "declared" disasters. OFDA funding also covers additional funding for completion in prior-year and non-declared disasters. This year was marked by the OFDA response to the emergency in the Newly Independent States following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Total amount of US foreign Disaster Assistance spent in FY 1993 was $189,738,690.

Responded emergencies were as following;

Angola-Civil Strife, Benin-Refugees, Egypt-Earthquake, Eritrea-Tornado, Ethiopia-Drought, Food Shortages, and

DHA-GENEVA 93/0540

SRI LANKA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
29 DECEMBER 1993

1. SINCE MID-DECEMBER HEAVY RAINS HAVE BEEN HITTING COUNTRY, CAUSING EXTENSIVE FLOODING IN NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SRI LANKA.

2. SO FAR NO DEATHS/SERIOUS INJURIES REPORTED. HOWEVER, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PLANTATIONS, FARMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE VERY EXTENSIVE. NEARLY ALL MAJOR AND MINOR IRRIGATION TANKS OVERFLOWING. AS REPORTED TO DHA, OVER 25,000 FAMILIES (150,000 PERSONS) HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND NUMBER EXPECTED TO INCREASE. (IFRC REPORTS 65,000 FAMILIES AFFECTED.)

DHA-GENEVA 93/0535
MALAYSIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
25 DECEMBER 1993

SITUATION

1. TORRENTIAL RAINS CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN THE NORTHEASTERN STATES OF MALAYSIA. MOST AFFECTED STATES ARE KELANTAN, PAHANG AND TERENGGANU.

2. TO DATE, IT IS REPORTED THAT 7 PERSONS HAVE DROWNED AND ANOTHER THREE PERSONS ARE MISSING, 13,000 PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES. IN KELANTAN IN THE TOWN OF TUMPAT 16 HOUSES WERE SWEPT AWAY AND A HOSPITAL IN KOTA BAHARU WAS UNDER WATER. THE FLOODS DAMAGED HOMES AND CROPS AND CUT ROADS AND RAILWAYS.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

DHA-GENEVA 93/0509
COSTA RICA - FLOODS
DHA GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
13 DECEMBER 1993

SITUATION

1. DURING THE NIGHT OF THURSDAY, 9 DECEMBER 1993, HEAVY RAINS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF COSTA RICA TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, EXTENDING TO THE COASTLINE, CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN THE LOWER DISTRICTS, PROMPTING THE GOVT TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

DHA-GENEVA 93/0500

INDIA - CYCLONE
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.1
6 DECEMBER 1993

SITUATION

1. ON 4 DECEMBER 1993, A SEVERE CYCLONE HIT SOUTHERN INDIA CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN TAMIL NADU AND IN KARAIKAL REGION OF PONDICHERRY. ELECTRICAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION POLES AND HUNDREDS OF TREES UPROOTED, DISRUPTING ROAD AND RAIL TRAFFIC AND COMMUNICATION LINKS. TORRENTIAL RAINS CONTINUE TO LASH THE AFFECTED AREA.

2. AS OF 6 DECEMBER, AT LEAST 54 PEOPLE REPORTED DEAD AND 30,000 HOUSES DAMAGED. SOME 60,000 AFFECTED PEOPLE CAMPING IN PUBLIC SHELTERS.