What paradigms should take precedence during a humanitarian emergency when the needs may overwhelm the resources, particularly in the early phase ? Is it possible to resolve the tension between quality and quantity in a resource constrained situation ? How has a changing geopolitical climate affected humanitarian medical action ? Is there a rôle for a critical care specialist at all, when medical resources are simple and finite ? What are the particular challenges of living and working together with a group of colleagues in an unfamiliar and stressful remote environment ? What can be learned for critical care practice in resource rich settings from our colleagues working in resource constrained emergency situations ? These, amongst other complex questions will be explored.

1. CRITICAL CARE IN DIFFICULT
CONTEXTS
NIKKI BLACKWELL
ALLLIANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ACTION
JUNE 2016

2. declaration
« humanitarianism is a citizen’s response
to political failure »

3. ETHIOPIA 1984, FAMINE WEMBLEY STADIUM 1985

4. « Critical care is not hard. It is just
about doing the simple things really
well – and not doing anything stupid »
Dr Dan Mullany 2002

5. MALI 2010, MALNUTRITION

6. BRISBANE 2015, PEACE

7. IVORY COAST 2005, CONFLICT

8. EVERYWHERE, ALMOST ALWAYS

10. PAKISTAN NWFP 2005, EARTHQUAKE

11. PAKISTAN NWFP 2006, EARTHQUAKE

12. HAITI, IVORY COAST, LIBERIA,CONFLICT

13. HAITI 2004-2005, CONFLICT

14. HAITI 2004-2005, CONFLICT

16. HAITI 2005, CONFLICT

17. IVORY COAST 2005, CONFLICT

18. IVORY COAST 2005, CONFLICT

19. PAKISTAN NWFP 2005, EARTHQUAKE

20. IVORY COAST 2005 CONFLICT

21. HAITI 2010, CHOLERA

22. HAITI 2010, CHOLERA

23. NIGER 2013, MALNUTRITION

24. NIGER 2012, MALNUTRITION
if children starve in peacetime
it should be called war

25. NIGER, THE FUTURE