EMERGENCIES

The issue

Every year, more than 30 million people are forced to leave their homes because of conflicts such as civil war, or natural disasters such as the tsunami.

Both types of emergency devastate all sorts of lives but it is the poor who bear the brunt of the suffering. Often their homes are built from low quality materials, so are vulnerable. They may also lose their only source of income, such as crops or a fishing boat, so they can't earn to rebuild.

War and conflict in poor countries means the government may buy weapons with money needed for health and education.