Time spent in preparation is seldom wasted. Often, in an emergency, time is limited, but the following information should enable you to use your time wisely.

• Valid passport (and photocopy) and at least six passport photos. In some countries the yellow booklet (immunization record) may be required. Ensure that this booklet includes your blood group.
• Driver licence.
  
• Adequate amount of relevant currency and/or travel cheques. Also take at least one credit card.
• Food and water for 36 hours, four changes of clothing appropriate for the location, toilet articles, flash-light with spare batteries, alarm clock, pocket-knife, earplugs and business cards.
• Sleeping bag, mosquito net , mosquito dome, tent, ground mat, etc, (if required).
• Essential information about the country (figures and basic facts: main historic events, humanitarian background, season, regional context, cultural and religious aspects etc).
• Essential contacts, embassy, etc.
  
  

Optional Items (brought at own risk): pocket-size binoculars, electrical adapters for appliances, pocket calculator, personal digital camera, condoms, swapping items (pins, buttons, pencils, stickers, etc).

• Prescription medicine for expected length of stay; pain killers, medication for colds, allergies, diarrhoea, athlete's foot, etc.
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, antiseptic ointment, lip salve, vitamins, small scissors, tweezers, soap, isopropyl alcohol, water-purification tablets, three packets of oral re-hydration salts, baseball cap or hat for sun and rain, extra pair of spectacles or contacts (plus copy of your optician's prescription).
• Prescription of medicine for endemic/communicable diseases (prevention and treatment): ask your doctor or to the medical department of your organisation for medical advice.
• Comprehensive individual first aid kit.
  
• Make sure that your vaccination status is still valid.
  
  

Items that would normally be provided by your organisation:

• Laptop computer with accessories for e-mail.
• Most recent version of LOG on an USB.
• Obtain an electronic map of the affected country/region. (The Logistics Cluster website would normally have them available within the first 72 hours of an emergency).
  
• Specific items related to the task such as mobile phone, satellite phone, PDA, GPS, digital camera (flyaway kit).
• Country clearances for affected country and visa if required.

ReliefWeb tool - Before you go on mission, create your customized briefing kit to get a concise overview of a humanitarian situation in a single PDF file.

Visit the Logistics Cluster web page – read the operations page and the relevant country page.