When responding to an emergency situation, ensuring safe excreta disposal is an urgent priority in the disaster relief effort. Aid organizations typically dig trench or pit latrines, but in some challenging environments, different methods such as ecological sanitation (Ecosan) must be employed. Ecosan is sanitation methods and technologies which promote the safe reuse rather than the disposal of excreta. Currently, Ecosan is mostly implemented in disaster relief for flood-prone areas and locations where excavation is not possible.

A typhoid outbreak that started as 2012 was ushered in has worsened in the African country of Zimbabwe as new cases increased to an estimated 50 new cases reported per day by affected individuals. The typhoid outbreak adds to the large amount of woes Zimbabwe already have including a failing educational system, poor financial securities and social unrest.

The Pakistani government and humanitarian development agencies’ less than satisfactory involvement in ensuring potable water and proper sanitation facilities in the flood-ravaged districts of lower Sindh has resulted in increased health risks, especially viral and waterborne diseases, for the affected people living in those districts, warned Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF)’s Civil Society Floods Situation Report on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) response in Sindh issued on Wednesday.
The report disclosed that 87 percent of the total available water sources have b

New Delhi, Dec 25, 2011: The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), proposed by the Group of Ministers, will be monitored and supervised by an inter-departmental committee chaired by the Union Health Secretary. The cost-sharing for the implementation of the programme between the Centre and States will be on a 90:10 basis.

Islamabad, Dec 13, 2011: The ministry of disaster management, the government of Pakistan, in collaboration with UNICEF, Plan International, UN-HABITAT and Water Aid are hosting a three-day workshop on end-of-project evaluation for Phase I and mid-term review and action plan for Phase II of this programme from December 12th – 14th in Islamabad.

Millions of Pakistanis desperately need help 100 days after monsoon rains triggered major floods for a second year running with a "grave risk" of a public health crisis, aid groups warned Wednesday.

Nov 11: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is distributing more than 300,000 hygiene and sanitation items to flood-affected families in Thailand, in an effort to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the Asian country," Bernama reports. The risk of water-borne diseases is increased in flood-affected areas, but that risk "can be reduced through safe sanitation and improved hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing," according to the news agency (11/11).

Disaster management is the keyword today with earthquakes, tsunami, drowning or floods having a tell-tale impact on the lives of people and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation chose to impart training to members of self-help groups in the city to overcome such situations.

Whenever a natural calamity strikes Pakistan, aid agencies spring to their feet to help those in need, but questions have recently been raised, if this aid effectively reaches women in affected regions.

Although cultural traditions prevent access to women in many parts of the country, the issue has slowly emerged on the radars of those delivering aid and relief.

In this context, several issues have come to light, among them shortage of women relief workers, lack of mobility of women in distress, no proper health care and no separate washrooms.

This standard operating procedure will include all functions pertaining to disaster prevention, institutional mechanism, preparedness, early warning, relief, recovery and rehabilitation. This standard operating procedure will apply to RWSS Department/PHED/PRED/Sanitation departments/ Board dealing with rural water supply and sanitation for natural disasters that the state is prone to. It shall not be applicable to nuclear, biological and chemical disasters. Download Complete File