Disasters and their Effects on the Population: Key Concepts
6. Organizations
6.2. Shortcomings
Limitations of Military Assistance
Despite all the advantages mentioned above, the use of the military can have significant shortcomings and limitations in some situations.
Medical care: Field hospitals are designed for the care of soldiers wounded in combat (i.e., for the care of wounds suffered by healthy adults). During a disaster, primary care and preventive interventions for women and children are major needs.
Logistics: Supplies available in the military response system may not be appropriate for a disaster in terms of prevailing diseases or types of food.
Political objectives: The military are an asset of governments; in addition, certain humanitarian objectives can be subordinated to other political or strategic goals. The presence of the army in certain scenarios can cause tension in certain groups of the population and compromise relief workers who, for their own safety and function, wish to be considered neutral.
Cost: Military activities are expensive.