https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200324102703.htm

According to United Nations estimates, in 2020, "over 168 million worldwide will need humanitarian assistance and protection." Many people experiencing humanitarian crises, often due to conflicts or natural disasters, lack access to basic needs, including food, shelter and healthcare. As the co-authors point out in their commentary, these communities do not have "the infrastructure, support and health systems" to institute a comprehensive, public health response. These are places, which may have very little, if any health infrastructure -- communities, which may not have any trained medical personnel or personal protective equipment.

"The World Health Organization's basic protective measures against COVID-19, include washing your hands frequently; yet, access to soap and clean water is not typically an option for people living in humanitarian crises," explains lead author Danielle M. Poole, a Neukom fellow in the department of geography at Dartmouth. "These are populations that do not have adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) tools."