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Unsafe water facilities and unhealthy hygiene practices also contribute to the spread of infections which cause diarrhoea and dysentery . Around four million people die every year as a result of poor access to water and sanitation, with around 2.2 million of these dying from diarrhoeal diseases, the majority being children in developing countries.
Red Cross support
The British Red Cross supports a range of water and sanitation activities, from Zambia in Africa to Cambodia in Asia. The programmes include maintaining and building safe latrines as well as educating communities about the importance of hygiene practices such as washing your hands before cooking and using clean water for drinking.
During emergencies such as floods, water can become contaminated and have a negative impact on people's health. Reducing the spread of disease after a disaster is key to saving lives. Our mass sanitation emergency response unit is ready to respond 24/7 with the expertise and equipment to prevent further loss of life.
Floods can also cut communities’ access to the outside world, preventing them from gaining access to medical care, which can be particularly dangerous for those who are sick or pregnant. In Nepal, we are working with communities to reduce risks by providing rickshaw ambulances to carry people to hospital. We also support the building of dams and tree planting to lessen damage caused by floods.
More about our water and sanitation work
Watch a video about water and sanitation in Zambia | 
