1. Objectives
   
   Humanitarian emergencies have become a scourge of humankind, leaving millions of people dead, maimed, undernourished, and displaced. In the 1990s, the number and scale of these emergencies increased, and there are no signs that they will disappear. This project has examined: the economic and political roots of vulnerability to humanitarian disasters, case studies which investigate the causes of some major emergencies, and the political economy of the prevention of humanitarian emergencies. The research project defines a complex humanitarian emergency as a man-made crisis, in which large numbers of people die and suffer from war, physical violence (often by the state), disease, hunger, or displacement. Complex emergencies, include, among others, recent conflicts in Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo (Kinshasa).
   
   The work was carried out through economic and political analysis by numerous scholars from co-operating institutions, based on field and empirical investigation, use of statistics and econometrics, and conceptual and policy analysis.
   
   Since the end of the Cold War, major civil wars in developing countries have increased in number and in the magnitude of their effects. They are the most important source of human suffering in the world today. While there are many political analyses of these emergencies, this is the first extensive analysis of the economic and political roots of humanitarian emergencies. As a result of the analysis of these roots, the research is able to identify early economic and political measures to prevent such disasters. The study uses general economic and political analysis and case studies (including, among others, Bosnia, Rwanda, Burundi, Afghanistan, and Congo). The first volume provides a general overview of the nature and causes of the presents detailed case studies of different types of conflicts - including those whose main origin emergencies, including economic, political and environmental factors. The second volume lies in the weakness of the state, and those where economic or environmental causes predominate. The third volume explores preventative action of different types by the country's civil society and government, transnational NGOs, rich-country governments, and international agencies.
2. Activities/contents
   
   In addition to the Co-Directors, several contributors are from UN agencies or representatives to the UN; these UN agencies have provided resources for the contributions of participants. The Rector and Vice Rector, UNU, will participate in the policy conference, which reports on the implications of the research to the policy community, in Stockholm, 15-16 June 1998.
   
   A policy conference, "War, Hunger and Displacement: The Economies and Politics of the Prevention of Humanitarian Emergencies," to report on the policy implications of the research to those in multilateral and bilateral agencies, NGOs, and other members of the policy community, and sponsored by Sida, is being held 15-16 June 1998, in Stockholm.
   
   Project activities are mainly concluded. Three book volumes, entitled "War, Hunger and Displacement: The Origins and Prevention of Humanitarian Emergencies." are being considered for publication by Oxford University Press.
   
   Fourteen reports were published in a UNU/WIDER's Research for Action, Working Paper, or Research in Progress Series (see List of Publication). Three book volumes, entitled "War, Hunger and Displacement: The Origins and Prevention of humanitarian Emergencies." are being considered for publication by Oxford University Press. One co-director published a summary article on the project in the Financial Times, and co-directors and others in the projects have made a number of other contributions to the press and other media. Two authors' meetings (October 96 at UNU/WIDER) and July 97, hosted by Queen Elizabeth House in Oxford U.K., were held. A policy conference, "War, Hunger and Displacement: The Economies and Politics of the Prevention of Humanitarian Emergencies." to report on the policy implications of the research to those in multilateral and bilateral agencies. NGOs, and other members of the policy community, and sponsored by Sida, is being held 15-16 June 1998, in Stockholm.
   
   A policy brief based on the research results is under preparation, for possible presentation to the UN General Assembly in early 1999.
3. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   
   Fits in line with point 3.2 of the Action Plan (Conflict Prevention and Post Conflict Development) of the TICAD II Agenda for Action.

Professor F. Wayne Nafziger
Professor Ramio Vayrynen
c/o UNU/WIDER