A humanitarian crisis or (in the language of history) a humanitarian disaster is a health or otherwise natural disaster which mortally threatens a very large number of people. A natural disaster is a catastrophe that occurs when a hazardous physical event (such as a volcanic eruption, earthquake, landslide, hurricane, or any of the other natural phenomena listed below) precipitates extensive damage to property, a large number of casualties, or both. ...

Such crises more often refer to localized cases of punctuated destruction —an act of nature, wars, famines, or epidemics. In a less typical sense, longer-term cases such as health pandemics may also qualify, as in the case of AIDS, and SARS. Major health-related problems such as cancer, global warming typically require an accentuated or punctuated mass-event to justify a label of "crisis" or "disaster." It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Severe weather. ... An act of war - the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan during World War II War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of violent, physical force between combatants or upon civilians. ... A famine is a phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country are undernourished that death by starvation becomes increasingly common. ... This article is about outbreaks of disease. ... The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV positive and people living with AIDS. The Red Ribbon was created by the late New York-based painter Frank Moore. ... Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an atypical form of pneumonia. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2004 Mean temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming describes an increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans. ...

An important example of a humanitarian crisis is the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After striking Florida, Katrina ravaged through the Gulf Coast, causing widespread damage in New Orleans, Alabama, Mississippi, and other estern states. Katrina was costiest tropical cyclone in history, surpassing the $26 billion worth of damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Katrina has also caused over 1,000 deaths, and still rising. This article is about the 2005 hurricane. ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush (R) Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... Fatale is also the title of a comic book published in the mid-1990s by Broadway Comics. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... State nickname: Camellia State, The Heart of Dixie¹, Yellowhammer State Other U.S. States Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Governor Bob Riley (R) Official languages English Area 52,423 mi²/135,775 km² (30th)  - Land 50,750 mi²/131,442 km²  - Water 1,673 mi²/4,333 km² (3. ... State nickname: Magnolia State Other U.S. States Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Governor Haley Barbour (R) Official languages English Area 125,546 km² (32nd)  - Land 121,606 km²  - Water 3,940 km² (3%) Population (2000)  - Population 2,697,243 (31st)  - Density 23. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ... Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive and expensive hurricanes to hit the United States. ... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... A death toll is the number of dead as a result of war, violence, accident, natural disaster, extreme weather, or disease. ...

External link

Reuters maintains a page on current humanitarian crises. Reuters Group plc is best known as a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ...