Excreta disposal in emergencies : a field manual

Excreta disposal is given less priority in emergencies than other humanitarian interventions, such as health care, food and water supply. This despite the fact that many of the most common diseases occurring in emergency situations are caused by inadequate sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices. In this manual existing, innovative and new technologies and approaches for excreta disposal in emergency situations are investigated. It provides practical guidance on how to select, design, construct and maintain appropriate excreta disposal systems to reduce facael transmission risks and protect public health in emergency situations. Relevant situations include natural disasters, relief for refugees and internally displaced persons, and complex emergencies, focusing on rural and peri-urban areas.

The manual presents a process, which can be followed to assess current sanitation needs and priorities, and support to design an appropriate programme to respond to those needs. It can also be used to select appropriate excreta disposal technologies, systems, and hygiene promotion interventions. The manual provides guidance on how to plan, design and construct systems, and how to maintain and promote appropriate use of those systems. Elaborated design information on how to construct different types of latrines and handwashing devices is provided, together with strategies for difficult situations and advice on operation and maintenance.

This manual can be useful for field-based technicians or engineers (with limited experience) or non-technical staff responsible for sanitation planning, management and intervention in emergencies. This may include international personnel sent to an emergency, local, national and regional staff.