Resource Center

The water supply of the rural coastal areas in Sri Lanka is provided by private open dug wells, most of which have been flooded by sea water during the tsunami. The salinity of the well affected proved not to be the main problem, and early attempts to rehabilitate wells failed.

After the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, thousands of agencies, organizations, and individual people tried to find ways to help the people affected. However, there was also an outbreak of cholera in the town of St.

Handwashing practices prove to be an effective and easy way of ensuring the health of populations affected by emergencies and humanitarian crieses. However, access and implementation of appropriate handwashing technologies act as barriers in emergencies.

Most households in the districts of Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami possessed drinking water wells, and these wells were contaminated by debris, sludge and saltwater.

The construction of sufficient latrines for displaced people in rocky, high water-table areas can be a problem. This article describes how shallow trench latrines were trialled after the Pakistan floods, and these proved to be easy to construct and well accepted.

Household water treatment (HWTS) methods, such as boiling or chlorination, have long been recommended in emergencies. While there is increasing evidence of HWTS efficacy in the development context, effectiveness in the acute emergency context has not been rigorously assessed.

Effective menstrual management is essential for the mental and physical well-being of women. However, many women in low-income countries lack access to the materials and facilities required.

Point-of-use water treatment (PoUWT), such as boiling or chlorine disinfection, has long been recommended in emergencies.

The bacteriological quality of drinking-water supply of five major urban centres affected by the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan were assessed in three phases: onset of emergency, during emergency response and post-emergency.

When water supplies are compromised during an emergency, responders often recommend household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) methods, such as boiling or chlorination.