Risk Returns

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key services (for example, solid waste management where the pres-

ence of waste might pose a risk to public health). DRR actions

will be more involved, and will aim for higher levels of resilience.

Timescales considered will be extended. The integration with other

sectors and cross-cutting issues will become much stronger.

In the development phase, the elements of the relief

and recovery phases are covered but with added scope.

All WASH services are covered, including non-critical

ones (e.g. solid waste management where presence of

solid waste is not considered a large public health or

safety issue). DRR actions will be comprehensive, and

will aim for a high level of resilience, especially for

critical WASH services. Timescales considered will be

longer still. Integration with other sectors and cross-

cutting issues will be significant.

The importance of disaster risk in development

initiatives is often still underestimated. This results

in communities and societies that are left vulnerable

to the impact of hazard events. When these events

occur, people and communities are often heavily

affected, and development gains are lost. While it

is impossible to completely eliminate the impact of

disasters on society, the losses are often unnecessar-

ily high.

Disaster risk should be adequately addressed in society

by increasing resilience to hazard events in all sectors

that contribute to development. The task of creating

more resilient societies is a large one, and no single

organization will encompass the skills and authority

needed to achieve this on its own. To maximize impact,

an approach of collaboration and coordination between

different stakeholders will be necessary.

While the task of creating more resilient societies

is a challenging one, it is also an important one, and

to achieve stronger societies, the policy guidance as

presented in the Hyogo Framework for Action will have

to permeate throughout development plans and policies.

Increasing the

resilience of

WASH services to

disaster through

mitigation and

preparedness

measures

Avoiding or reducing

the risk of disaster

that WASH services

could pose to society

WASH services

Disaster risk

Disaster

Society

DRR and WASH services

Source: CARE

Raised handpump installed in Bidhan Colony Village; note the instructions on operation and hygiene promotion messages