CE-DAT - Centre for research on the epidemiology of disasters

The use of epidemiology in documenting the mortality experience in complex emergencies has become pervasive in humanitarian practice. Recent assessments in Iraq and Darfur have provoked much discussion on the assessment of mortality in scientific and policy spheres. In this context, CRED and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative held an inter-disciplinary symposium to examine the topic among epidemiologists, demographers, forensic scientists and legal and human rights investigators. We aimed to strengthen the scientific understanding of mortality estimation by reviewing progress across fields and building inter-disciplinary bridges.

Prepared by: Ruwan Ratnayake, Olivier Degomme and Debarati Guha-Sapir
Published in: Conflict and Health • February 2009 ; 3:2 •

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The CE-DAT initiative is a collaborative partnership of the following organizations active in research or in providing and coordinating relief and assistance to conflict-affected populations.