Southwest Asia

Afghanistan
The International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) led CDC's response to the war in Afghanistan. IERHB staff were the first U.S. government employees in Afghanistan besides the U.S. State Department and the U.S. military. IERHB conducted the national measles immunization campaign during 2002-03and surveys requested by U.N. on regional nutritional assessments and national injury disability, mortality and mental health. IERHB staff acted as the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) health coordinators for internally displaced people. In 2003, IERHB established the Post Emergency Public Health Center in Afghanistan (PEPHCA), a collaborative project between CDC, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Afghan ministry of health, which is center of excellence for public health, epidemiology, and survey methods in Afghanistan.

Azerbaijan
In previous years, the International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) staff contributed to health and nutrition surveys in this former Soviet republic.

Iraq
The International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) worked with the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the U.S. State Department, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in planning responses to a potential humanitarian crisis prior to the onset of the Iraq war.

Israel
In collaboration with the Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) conducted outcome evaluation study of a school-based mental health intervention in Akko in the north of Israel in relation to children traumatized by war and violent conflict. A second outcome evaluation of a school-based mental health intervention is currently underway in a Bedouin (Arab) population in the south of Israel in the town of Rahat.

Jordan
In 2003, the International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) worked with CDC's Epidemiology Program Office to conduct a national epidemiology training course in Jordan. As part of the CDC and Landmine Survivors Network’s (LSN) cooperative agreement, IERHB supports landmine survivor peer support activities in Jordan. Also, IERHB conducted a survey among national staff of humanitarian organizations in Jordan working directly with Iraqi refugees. In collaboration with Antares, an NGO that provides psychosocial support to humanitarian organizations).

Pakistan
The International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) has a long history of work in the Afghan refugee camps along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. In coordination with the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), IERHB field tested a health information system, which makes the collection and analysis of health data more timely and effective in refugee settings. During the war in Afghanistan, IERHB provided health coordinators to UNHCR to direct health activities in the refugee camps and around Quetta Pakistan.

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