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RESPONSE This section details the plight of several sectors of society that bear unusual burdens in any disaster. Women and children are always most vulnerable. Until recently, almost no attention was paid to a forgotten, and ignored, group who suffer from noncommunicable diseases. Their dependence on medications and medical care is disrupted and, without proper planning, they silently die in large numbers. There are, however, new tools, including advanced technology and the use of modern media, which offer creative options that go beyond current practices in disaster relief. In addition to the human damage that follows disasters, part of our cultural soul, the essence of our civilization , can be damaged and lost. This critical dimension deserves attention in both preparedness and response. The final chapter in this section focuses on educating a cadre of men and women in the realities of fieldwork as experienced in disasters so that they are capable of delivering a coordinated and effective response. ...

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