Emergency and post-emergency

Water, sanitation ans hygiene (WASH) are priorities in emergencies. Solutions have to be practical and easy to implement as there are limited resources, and staff with varying skill levels are under considerable pressures of time. WEDC has been providing information and training for humanitarian WASH workers for over two decades. Carrying out direct research in the acute stage of an emergency is challenging logistically and ethically, so many of the lessons learnt are taken from post-humanitarian reviews or within a more settled situation of a camp.However, regular contact with humanitarian agencies through training courses and technical advice provides insights into the current problems and solutions used in the field.

At the other end of the disaster cycle we have also carried out research in the transition from emergency response to a longer-term development. These have resulted in a series of best practice technical briefs, guidance manuals and distance learning courses, reflecting the current state of emergency relief WASH interventions. Many of these publications are referred to in the SPHERE Handbook.

If you would like to find out more about WEDC’s work is this area, please contact Brian Reed.

Projects in this area

Annual training courses

Water, Hygiene And Sanitation for Health (MSF)
Strategic Approaches to Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (MSF)
Excreta Disposal in Emergencies (Université de Neuchâtel/ ICRC)

Contact Brian Reed if you wish to discuss the provision of a bespoke training course for your organisation's need in this area.

Bespoke training courses

Emergency sanitation (Austrian Red Cross)
Emergency Water Supply and Sanitation (UNICEF Liberia)
Groundwater Development, Water Quality, Water Treatment, Pumping Systems and Pipe Networks (Mercy Corps – Iraq/ Jordan)

Publications

Water Engineering and Development Centre