Floods - World Health Organization (WHO) Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical public health infrastructure
Flood response through community engagement WHO India provided guidance on post-flood healthcare management and supported monitoring of active door-to-door surveys, information, education and communication on healthcare during and after floods, and training of panchayat leaders on community preparedness and revenue officers on community-based healthcare management during floods
Floods: How to protect your health How do I protect my health in a flood? Since floods can potentially increase the transmission of water- and vector-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever, among others, it is important to know your risk and protect your water sources
Public health advice on protecting your health before, during and after . . . Leave doors and windows open whenever possible and safe, to dry out your home Do not use petrol or diesel generators indoors Wear a face mask, rubber boots, waterproof gloves and an apron while cleaning Keep children away from flood-contaminated and muddy areas until a week after the water has receded
Impact in 2022 - Pakistan - World Health Organization (WHO) WHO prevents disease outbreaks in flood-affected Pakistan The devastating floods in Pakistan and their aftermath severely disrupted the delivery of health services, with 10% of the country’s health facilities either damaged or destroyed and more than eight million people in urgent need of health assistance
Emergency preparedness saves lives amid Romania’s catastrophic floods In July, heavy rains triggered flash floods across northeastern Romania Commander Marian Ruscan, Unit Commander of the Suceava Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and his small team of emergency responders were first to arrive at the scene in Suceava County, one of the most badly affected areas
Heavy rainfall is causing rivers to burst their banks, leaving huge . . . Vast areas of central Europe are experiencing what is being called the worst flooding in more than 20 years, triggered by slow-moving Storm Boris WHO Europe has been reaching out to affected Member States and offering support, including health advice for communities Several deaths have been reported, with numbers likely to rise as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer Thousands have
September 2024 Floods and Landslides In the third week of September, Nepal experienced heavy and continuous rainfall, which caused widespread destruction across 21 districts, with seven being severely affected Over 50 health facilities sustained damage The relentless downpours led to severe flooding, landslides and road blockages, disrupting transportation, livelihoods and public safety on a large scale
The importance of preparedness: strengthening community resilience . . . Climate change is altering the world in which we live in Weather has become more extreme, and natural disasters happen more often than before Flash floods have emerged as a persistent threat, endangering lives, homes, and livelihoods Amidst this perilous environment, a silent killer lurks—the risk of drowning Often underestimated, even knee-high water levels can prove deadly as
Dzud emergency in Mongolia moves to risk of floods and environmental . . . People in Mongolia continue to grapple with the effects of a severe dzud—an extreme winter event with temperatures dropping to −30°C or lower and strong winds, heavy snow and ice On account of this dzud (2023-2024), Mongolia saw the highest snowfall recorded in the last 49 years At its peak, the dzud affected 90% of the territory of Mongolia, killing more than 5 9 million or over 9% of