Health care provision has unique characteristics that shape its specific exposure to security risks in conflict zones. The Security Risk Management for Health Care (SR4H) Handbook – available in Arabic, English and French – provides guidance on how to implement a range of actions intended to promote respectful and violence-free environments and prepare individuals or organisations to face and respond appropriately to violent incidents, also dealing with the aftermath of such events. It was developed to assist health services in middle- and low-income contexts affected by situations of insecurity or war. This handbook brings together some of the best practices on security risk management and proposes a framework adapted for health care providers working with limited resources. The objective of this handbook is to promote an approach that considers the safety and security of health professionals while ensuring patients’ access to care.

The main part of the handbook is structured around four factors comprising the security risk management for health care cycle that need to be in place to ensure appropriate management of risks threatening health care:

1) Awareness: Generating awareness of possible threats facing health and communicating ways of managing these threats.
2) Preparedness: Assessing the risks and putting systems and procedures in place to better prevent and cope with violence before it occurs.
3) Response: How to respond if a violent incident occurs.
4) Sustainability: Dealing with the aftermath of violent incidents and working towards sustainable health care provision and access.

While this handbook is primarily aimed at health programme managers providing frontline services, it is also highly relevant for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with partners who implement healthcare services. The handbook helps to identify practical activities that local health partners can implement and that NGO partners can include in partnership agreements and budget for.