Introduction We aimed to describe the burden of fires in displaced persons settlements and identify interventions/innovations that might address gaps in current humanitarian guidelines. Methods We performed a systematic review of: i) academic and non-academic literature databases; and ii) guidelines from leading humanitarian agencies/initiatives regarding fire prevention/control. Results Of the 1,521 records retrieved, 131 reports described settlement fires in 31 hosting countries since 1990. These incidents resulted in 487 deaths, 790 burn injuries, displacement of 382,486 individuals and destruction of 50,509 shelters. There was a 25-fold increase in the rate of settlement fires from 1990 to 2015 (0.002 to 0.051 per 100,000 refugees, respectively). Only 4 of the 15 leading humanitarian agencies provided recommendations about fire prevention/control strategies. Potentially useful interventions/innovations included safer stoves (e.g. solar cookers) and fire retardant shelter materials. Conclusion The large and increasing number of fires in displaced persons settlements highlights the need to redress gaps in humanitarian fire prevention/control guidelines. The way forward includes: i) developing consensus among aid agencies regarding fire prevention/control strategies; ii) evaluating the impact of interventions/innovations on the burden of fires; and iii) engaging agencies in a broader discussion about protecting camp residents from armed groups.
The incidence of chemical assault is increasing globally. In response, a number of countries are proposing legislation. However, current legislative initiatives are uncoordinated and do not address the spectrum of activities to prevent and care for victims of chemical assaults. To fill this gap, we aimed to review legislation, policies and regulations relevant to chemical assault to classify and catalogue current strategies into a legislative framework. Terms related to chemical assault were used to systematically search the academic, lay and legal literatures. Chemical assault was defined as the use of acid or another caustic or corrosive substance or vitriol by one person against another with the intent to injure or disfigure. Reports that described the use of chemical weapons in warfare were excluded. A second search of national legislations of countries with reports of chemical assaults was performed to identify enacted laws and gaps in legislative approaches to chemical assault control. Data regarding relevant laws, policies and regulations were extracted. The findings were used to classify and catalogue current strategies into a legislative framework using content analysis. The search returned 3769 records. Chemical assaults were reported from 104 countries. Using legislation from those countries, a framework consisting of five legislative priorities was developed: (a) apply a public health approach; (b) adopt legal definitions specific to chemical assault; (c) control chemical supply, sales and procurement; (d) facilitate justice; and (e) support survivors. Although many countries have implemented one or more of these legislative priorities, no country has a comprehensive address to chemical assault control. Comparative policy analysis and assessments of the impacts of legislative efforts may further inform strategies to prevent, prosecute and mitigate the impact of chemical assaults. In the meantime, advocacy groups and governments might consider implementation and enforcement of one or more components of this legislative framework to control the growing epidemic of chemical assault.
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