She noted that cadavers do not cause epidemics, as commonly thought, but that it is important to give people a chance to identify their family members who have died, for legal as well as psychological reasons. PAHO's representative in Caracas is coordinating response with support from disaster specialists, epidemiologists, and sanitary engineers, and SUMA, the humanitarian supply management system developed by PAHO to classify, sort, inventory and prioritize incoming supplies, has been activated at one site and is being operated by civil defense authorities. Vaccine experts at PAHO have issued guidelines for vaccinations in Venezuela, emphasizing immunization against measles for all people in shelters, and maintenance of routine vaccination services including replacement of vaccines used and refrigeration equipment which keeps them cold. PAHO has also issued a new guide for humanitarian assistance in disaster situations, which emphasizes practical advice and recommendations, and provides strong evidence that humanitarian assistance can considerably benefit a country ravaged by disaster if it responds with real needs. Likewise, when responding with unsolicited donations, or when donors have a misguided view of those needs, humanitarian assistance can also become a burden.
Cash assistance is by far the most effective type of assistance.