Systematic collection and analysis of disaster data provides invaluable information to governments and agencies in charge of relief and recovery activities. It also aids the integration of health components into development and poverty alleviation programs.Together with the complexity of collecting reliable information, however, there remains huge variability in definitions, methodologies, tools, and sourcing, and a lack a consensus on best practices for collecting data. CREDÂ has a long history of standardized data compilation, validation and analysis. EM-DAT provides an objective basis for vulnerability assessment and rational decision-making in disaster situations. It helps policymakers identify disaster types most common in a given country and have had significant historical impacts on specific human populations. In addition to providing information on the human impact of disasters, such as the number of people killed, injured or affected, EM-DAT provides disaster-related economic damage estimates and disaster-specific international aid contributions.