The purpose of these guidelines is to enable governments and cooperating agencies, including UN Agencies and NGOs, to deliver the minimum required multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS during the early phase of emergency situations. These guidelines, focusing on the early phase of an emergency, should not prevent organizations from integrating such activities in their preparedness planning. As a general rule, this response should be integrated into existing plans and the use of local resources should be encouraged. A close and positive relationship with local authorities is fundamental to the success of the response and will allow strengthening of the local capacity for the future.This document consists of four chapters, the last being the Guidelines themselves.Chapters 1 through 3 provide background and orientation information. Chapter 4, recognizing that any response to a disaster will be multi-sectoral, describes specific interventions on a sector-by-sector basis.The sectors are:1. Coordination 2. Assessment and monitoring 3. Protection 4. Water and Sanitation 5. Food security and nutrition 6. Shelter and site planning 7. Health 8. Education 9. Behaviour communication change (BCC) 10. HIV/AIDS in the workplaceA Matrix, incorporating these sectors, provides a quick-but-detailed overview of the various responses. The Action sheets, one for each sector, provide more in-depth information.