Disaster risk reduction and WASH

WASH services are critical to communities and save lives in both routine and emergency situations. Natural hazards can compromise WASH infrastructure and service delivery and this interruption of WASH services can increase the number of affected people beyond the area of direct impact. DRR interventions are necessary to protect WASH investments and should therefore be integrated into ‘regular’ development work, rather than viewed as a separate or additional task. It is essential that new vulnerabilities are not introduced, or reinforced, through new or existing WASH services.