Facing disasters and emergencies
Improving Damage Assessment Capacity

AIDIS, the Division of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters, in conjunction with PAHO/WHO, has prepared comprehensive training material for the water and sanitation sector to improve damage assessment in the wake of disasters.

“Damage and Needs Assessment in Water and Sanitation” has been prepared with financial support from the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and uses the OFDA needs assessment methodology, which includes a participant's handbook, guidelines to enable trainers to prepare each session, PowerPoint presentations, evaluation forms and a simulation exercise. The availability of this training material and the proposed common form for assessing damage will improve information management and lead to a more efficient use of resources.

By July 2004, 13 courses had been offered in Latin American countries and 273 evaluators were trained. Honduras has formed a team of trainers who have taught two more courses, adapting the material to Honduras and improving the technical skills of 45 evaluators. Additional courses are being planned for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Contact German Araya Montezuma at garayam@aya.go.cr.

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