Water supply and sanitation in emergency situations - organisations and networks

A selection of key international organisations and networks active in emergency water supply and sanitation.

Aquassistance (France)
Aid with Water and the Environment to deprived peoples (Aquassistance) is a voluntary association of the staff of the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group, set up in 1994. The web site is in French [12 Feb 2007]

CARE International
CARE is one of the world's largest independent, international relief and development organizations. Non-political and non-sectarian, CARE operates in more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. [12 Feb 2007]

FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (USA). Being part of the new Department of Homeland Security FEMA is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters. [12 Feb 2007]

Global WASH Cluster
An open formal platform for all emergency WASH actors, led UNICEF [26 Jun 2009]

ICRC
International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC works around the world on a strictly neutral and impartial basis to protect and assist people affected by armed conflicts and internal disturbances. The site has a section on “Clean water and reasonable living conditions for war victims” [12 Feb 2007]

IFRC
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Humanitarian organization carrying out relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combines this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member National Societies. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries. The site has a special section on water and sanitation. [12 Feb 2007]

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is active in 25 countries providing relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. Activities include environmental health. The Committee developed an Emergency Response Unit in 1995.

Medair (Switzerland)
Established in 1988, Medair is an international humanitarian aid agency based in Switzerland, with national offices in France, Netherlands and the UK. It provides emergency relief, especially in developing countries, in the following sectors: health (curative and preventative), nutrition, water and sanitation (WATSAN), food security, and shelter and reconstruction. Training to build up the local capacity is a key component of all these programmes. In 1998 Medair established a Water Fund.

MSF
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger. Their activities include also water and sanitation projects. [12 Feb 2007]

Oxfam - Emergencies
An international development, relief, and campaigning organisation. The section on water and sanitation includes a set of guidelines and manuals. [12 Feb 2007]

PAHO - Disasters and humanitarian assistance
The Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency. PAHO serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. The site includes contact details of disaster coordinators, technical guidelines (including environmental health), a list of publications (Spanish and English) on emergency drinking water and sanitation, and an overview of topics which includes water. [12 Feb 2007]

RedR
Engineers for Disaster Relief. An international charity working to relieve suffering in disasters by selecting, training and providing competent and effective relief personnel to humanitarian aid agencies world-wide. The international secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Accredited RedR offices are established in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, India and Kenya (for Eastern Africa). [12 Feb 2007]

HPN - Humanitarian Practice Network (UK)
An independent forum (formerly the Relief and Rehabilitation Network) where field workers, managers and policymakers in the humanitarian sector share information, analysis and experience. HPN’s institutional location is the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The sites includes HPN publications (magazine, network papers and best practice reviews) and links to key documents in humanitarian action.[12 Feb 2007].

The Sphere Project
The initiative was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, who framed a Humanitarian Charter and identified Minimum Standards to be attained in disaster assistance, in each of five key sectors (water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter and health services). The revised edition (2004) of the Sphere Handbook is available online. Chapter two deals with water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion. Sphere training materials are also provided online.

UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. The agency coordinates for example the provision and delivery of basic needs (shelter, food, water, sanitation and medical care). [12 Feb 2007]

Unicef - Countries in crisis
The central role of UNICEF in unstable situations is advocacy, assessment and coordination to ensure the care and protection of vulnerable children. This site provides an overview of Unicef’s emergency operations at country level. There is a related page on water and sanitation in emergencies. [12 Feb 2007]

University of Colorado (USA) - Natural Hazards Center
The Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center (NHRAIC) serves as a national and international clearinghouse of knowledge concerning the social science and policy aspects of disasters.

WEDC - Emergency water supply and sanitation
Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) is a self-funding organization within the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University (UK). WEDC's work in emergency situations involves: identifying needs and priorities, supervising teams to organize supplies of water, provide sanitation and mobilize members of the community; and training relief workers. The site includes WEDC projects and publications related to emergency water supply and sanitation. [12 Feb 2007]

World Vision
A Christian relief and development organisation helping communities to help themselves through emergency relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion of justice. Water is one of their development issues. [12 Feb 2007]

WHO EMRO - Emergency and Humanitarian Action
Maintained by the Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean of the World Health Organization (WHO/EMRO). The Eastern Mediterranean Region includes the North Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. The site includes news, country updates, consolidated international appeals, a photo-gallery, information on training courses, and a disaster tracker (under construction). [12 Feb 2007]