According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, when Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) struck southern and central parts of the Philippines in December 2021, it damaged 141 water structures and over 410 sanitation facilities, leading to increased risk of water-borne diseases as affected Filipinos had no access to drinking water were forced to rely on water from open springs and hand pumps contaminated by mud, flood and sea water.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross, there were over 400 cases of diarrhea and gastroenteritis, likely resulting from contamination of water sources in Odette-hit areas. Eight people reportedly died due to diarrhea.
“During climate disasters, infrastructure gets damaged. Not just electricity, communication, but most importantly, water,” said Jenica Dizon, country director of Waves for Water Philippines, and organization that started in the country in 2013 as a response to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded.
Additionally, in 2050, climate change could be responsible for approximately 32,954 additional diarrhea deaths worldwide among children aged 0 to 15, the World Health Organization estimated.
The WHO stressed that investing in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a core element in both preparedness and response, and prevention and mitigation of the impacts of future emergencies. “It’s paramount to plan for and create more resilient water infrastructure because access to clean water is a human right and a basic need. Without water, there really is no life,” Dizon said.
For the WHO, the top three priorities in promoting WASH in vulnerable communities are ensuring sufficient amounts of safe water, arranging basic sanitation necessities and promoting good hygiene practices. It adds the first priority necessitates each person be provided with 15 liters of water, which can be limited to 7.5 after a disaster. Water sources must also be protected from contamination and toilet facilities immediately provided when sanitation structures are damaged by disasters. Securing toilet facilities prevents the further spread of contamination to the community or its water sources.
While the DOH and WHO have integrated WASH into disaster setting guidelines, simply providing recommendations isn’t enough as implementation and sustainability will be critical as damaged water systems have to be restored or upgraded.
As a nation that still needs to upgrade WASH facilities and programs, including preparation for disasters makes sense and that is a direction government should move towards as we strive to build a healthier and more resilient country.*
