The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) launched WASH and RESCUE, a three-year research project to find solutions for saving lives and improving human and environmental health through integrating disaster risk reduction in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has awarded SEI a research project to build resilience against disasters in cities, with a particular focus on the crucial role played by water, sanitation and hygiene improvements. The project will make use of experience from recent and recurring disasters and floods for example in Haiti, Mozambique, India and Sweden.

Natural hazards do not necessarily lead to disasters. Natural hazards, like extreme rainfall (flooding) and earthquakes, translate to disasters only when human society is unprepared for them and where infrastructure and planning has not been designed to withstand or buffer against them, and if society cannot respond adequately. The poorest populations are almost always the most seriously affected, contributing to a poverty trap.

Rapid urban development in low and middle income countries is often increasing disaster risk and climate change will further complicate existing problems. Many organisations and decision makers do not take disaster risk reduction (DRR) seriously although most  acknowledge the need. The implementation of appropriate policies tends to be postponed for long periods until a disaster occurs, which only then kick starts preventive activities.

The research will investigate:

• How investment in practical, long-term risk-reducing efforts can increase resilience to natural disasters and reduce the pressure on humanitarian responses.
• How best to support the self-mobilization capacity of urban communities to learn about and improve their infrastructure systems in order to provide resilient water and sanitation services, which can cope with natural hazards like flooding, drought, cyclones and earthquakes.

The research, which involves various partners from Sweden, India, Mozambique and Haiti,  takes into account that although globally the disaster risk community is getting increasingly well organized, the local level has not yet benefitted from this progress and there is very little knowledge available of what is required to enable and encourage improvements to reduce risk.

For more information please contact:

SEI Communications – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
SEI Research – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it