Integrating sanitation and environment assessments for use in emergencies

Emergency response is characterised by the need for rapid and effective assessment of the existing situation to allow for informed decision making. It is within these constraints of limited time and resources that personnel are expected to implement life sustaining interventions. During this time the consideration of cross-cutting issues such as the environment are limited as they are not seen as an integral part of immediate emergency response. Environmental awareness needs to be improved during emergency response to avoid future implications for the population and the environment upon which they depend. This study therefore focused on determining the likelihood of successful integration of environmental considerations within an existing emergency sanitation assessment. It tested two assessment methods, one for environmental sanitation and one for environmental impacts in a refugee camp in Zambia and makes recommendations on the practical application of these frameworks.