The World is facing unprecedented humanitarian needs.
Today’s humanitarian crisis tend to be larger in number, more often in urban settings, longer in duration and broader in regional impact.
They generate human sufferings on a greater scale, disrupting essential services, such as energy, water supply and sanitation, putting health of large population groups at risk.
Engineers and other expert specialists in water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, energy and environment, are playing a vital role to respond to these challenges and consistently growing needs beyond.
This site pretends to be a guiding body of knowledge for Public Health Engineers in the field, as well as for organisations in humanitarian sector, and anyone interested in WASH.
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Main purpose is educational and non-profit, exchanging innovative ideas between the WASH Community members thus reaching a more Sustainable , Water & Sanitation Management, focusing on international WATSAN emergency interventions in humanitarian contexts, post-conflict and development projects.
The goal is to "Learn, Grow & Share", together.
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Access to "WASH AI" chat :
a powerful search tool developed and maintained by Baobab Tech, ( Canadá ).
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Feel free to sign in Beta version. https://www.washai.org
Why Public Health Engineering matters ?
Source : ICRC©-Eawag©-EPFL©.
Responding to emergencies.
Source : ICRC©.
** The costs of unsafe water :
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2.2 billion people do not have access to clean water at home.
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2.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.
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Worldwide, over 80 % of all wastewater returns to the environment without being treated.
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Every day, more than 800 children under five years of age die from diarrhoea caused by dirty water.
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700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
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Source : https://www.oxfam.org/en/what-we-do/issues/water-and-sanitation
** Water risks and resilience :
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As climate change is projected to result in more intense droughts and floods, the protection and sustainable use of water resources is fundamental to deal with the climate and environmental emergency and build resilience. Comprehensive risk management, integrated policy making and unlocking finance mechanisms are key for achieving multiple benefits and enabling better water outcomes, including through nature-based solutions.
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1.4 Billion affected
At least 1.4 billion people have been affected by droughts and 1.6 billion by floods between 2000 and 2019. (World Bank, 2021). -
83% Loss
Freshwater biodiversity and species populations have been lost at a rate of 83% since the 1970s, faster than any other ecosystem being monitored. (WWF, 2022). -
Doubling of deaths
Water related disaster deaths have more than doubled in the last 10 years and nearly 95% of infrastructure loss and damage reported between 2010 to 2019 were due to water-related disasters. (Sendai Framework Monitor). -
US$ 115B in losses
In the last 50 years, floods led to economic losses of US$ 115 billion, while droughts led to the largest human losses causing 650.000 deaths. (UNCCD, 2022).​
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Site aligned with the United Nations - Sustainable Development Goal - SDG 06
"Ensure access to water and sanitation for all"
Acknowledgement to all relevant consulted sources - ( in alphabetical order ).
It is in the shelter of each other that people live.
( Irish proverb ).
( Latest revision : 27-01-2025 )