The Lancet Global Health: Disaster prevention should be equal
Editorial Board

“…Humanitarian action’s primary goal is responding to life-threatening situations, not preventing or ending conflict. It cannot offer a solution to the plight of the Rohingya and other vulnerable people, just alleviate their suffering. And the demand is becoming too great for the humanitarian community … So as the work being done to reduce the world’s communities’ exposure to natural disasters is celebrated this month, consideration must be given to how to do the same for conflict-related disasters. The international community must make a better use of peacebuilding capacities and development efforts to address the root causes of violence and prioritize prevention and sustainable peace, not just react to crises. No man, woman, or child should have to stand in the rubbles of their lives, whether brought down by a hurricane or by an army” (November 2017).