Guidance Note on Early Recovery 2008

During and immediately after a crisis, national actors and the international community focus primarilyon meeting immediate life-saving needs. Human lives are at risk and quick action is required to minimizedamage and restore order. From the very beginning, however, there is a need for more than life-savingmeasures. The foundations for sustainable recovery and a return to longer-term development shouldbe planned from the outset of a humanitarian emergency. The focus should be on restoring nationalcapacities to provide a secure environment, offer services, restore livelihoods, coordinate activities, preventthe recurrence of crisis, and create conditions for future development.