Emergency response
Safe water, sanitation and hygiene are among the most urgent needs after a natural disaster. These three essentials save lives and reduce unnecessary suffering. They mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable people around the world.
How we respond to emergencies
1. When a disaster occurs in one of the 22 countries where we have a presence, we mobilize quickly to prevent suffering and minimize the spread of diseases such as cholera or malaria through the provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
2. To address urgent needs and maintain dignity, we distribute hygiene kits and build toilets in displaced communities.
3. Once urgent needs are met, WaterAid teams work with local and national governments to develop recovery plans. WaterAid is a development organization, helping communities to reduce future risks by building robust and sustainable water systems. This reduces vulnerability so that when disasters happen, people have the support, knowledge and infrastructure they need to recover.
WaterAid by the numbers
40 years
of water projects
We were founded because no nonprofit like us existed. Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job.
27 countries
Our work spans three continents, Africa, Asia and Latin America with a presence in 30 countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, India and more.
28,500,000 people reached so far
We have equipped 29 million people with clean water, 29 million people with toilets and 28 million people with good hygiene so far. Our goal? Reach 400 million by 2032.
Where we work
From emergency response to recovery: current projects
Cholera Outbreak 2024
Cholera can be fatal and cases have been rising sharply in parts of Southern Africa. Clean water is the first line of defense
Cholera can be fatal and cases have been rising sharply in parts of Southern Africa. Clean water is the first line of defense
Learn more about how we respond to rising cholera numbers.
Pakistan Flooding 2022
Monsoon rains and floods in 2022 left one third of Pakistan under water.
Monsoon rains and floods in 2022 left one third of Pakistan under water.
Activities include disinfecting water sources, distributing hygiene kits, building toilets in camps and clearing flood water
Cyclone Idai Malawi & Mozambique
Tropical storms in 2022 caused severe flooding.
Tropical storms in 2022 caused severe flooding.
Activities included providing humanitarian relief in emergency camps, distributing hygiene kits, handwashing supplies and more.
