Publication

For many years, humanitarian and relief organizations did not see HIV as a priority in emergencies, focusing their attention on lifesaving measures such as the provision of health care, water, food and shelter. HIV was not seen as a direct threat to life, nor was the need to address HIV/AIDS as a long-term development issue fully understood. With the evidence of the HIV/AIDS dimension in the recent southern Africa crisis this perception is now changing. Coordinated responses to increased HIV vulnerability in emergency settings are starting to be integrated into humanitarian and relief agency workplans at the earliest possible stage of an emergency.