Health and sanitation aspects of flood management

The analysis of the health and sanitation aspects of Integrated Flood Management (IFM) carried out in this Tool outlines the main measures to be undertaken to minimize impacts on public health during the whole cycle of flood management (flood planning and preparedness, response, and post-flood relief and recovery).

While in the first phase actions should be aimed to mitigate the adverse impacts of floods on human health and environmental health services, such as water supply and sanitation (WSS), food hygiene and vector control, the response stage should be centered on the implementation of an operational plan to assess damage and ensure emergency operation of WSS systems and health-care services. Finally, in the aftermath of floods, activities to reinstate water quality, restore essential health services and rehabilitate critical infrastructure should characterize recovery programmes. The Tool also recommends the creation of mechanisms to involve stakeholders and local communitites in the planning process, in order to ensure that the health and sanitation conditions of all different social groups are equally taken into account.