Excreta disposal in emergencies: Bag and Peepoo trials with internally displaced people in Port-au-Prince
After a series of earthquakes devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 12 January 2010, safe excreta disposal became an urgent priority. To mainstream innovative approaches to sanitation within the realities of urban humanitarian response, Oxfam GB undertook a trial from April to May 2010, of standard bag and Peepoo excreta disposal systems in two IDP settlements. Trial results demonstrate that with proper collection and removal, both bags and Peepoos are viable excreta disposal options in emergencies. A reduction was seen in ‘flying toilets’, open defecation and user reports on diarrhoea in both settlements. For in-home use, the Peepoo was preferred over bags, 84 per cent to 55 per cent (χ2 = 6.15, p=0.013) based on its ability to contain odour. Key programmatic recommendations include contingency planning for disaster-prone areas and further analysis of cost effectiveness and phase-out points for bag excreta disposal systems. Additionally, the Peepoo size should be adjusted to be more widely applicable in diverse emergency settings.Fenner, R., Gutherie, P. and Piano, E. (2007) ‘Process selection for sanitation systems and wastewater treatment in refugee camps during disaster-relief situations’, Water and Environment Journal 21: 252-64.
Global WASH Cluster (2009) Lessons learned in WASH Response during Urban Flood Emergencies, WEDC, Loughborough University, UK.
Government of Haiti (2010) Haiti Earthquake Post Disaster Needs Assessment, Government of Haiti.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2010) From Sustaining Lives to Sustainable Solutions: The Challenge of Sanitation in Haiti, IFRC, Geneva.
Muench, E., Patel, D. and Wirseen, C. (2009) ‘Peepoo: A new sustainable sanitation system for urban informal settlements’, IWA Development Congress, Mexico DF, 15-19 November 2009.
Oxfam GB (2010) WASH Research and Development Strategy, Oxfam GB, Oxford, UK.
The Sphere Project (2004) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, Oxfam GB, Oxford.
UNDP (2006) Human Development Report. Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis, UNDP, New York.
UN OCHA (2010) ‘Key Facts and Figures’, internal document, UN OCHA, New York.
WHO/UNICEF (2010) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, Estimates for the use of Improved Sanitation Facilities: Haiti, WHO, Geneva; UNICEF, New York.
Fenner, R., Gutherie, P. and Piano, E. (2007) ‘Process selection for sanitation systems and wastewater treatment in refugee camps during disaster-relief situations’, Water and Environment Journal 21: 252-64.
Global WASH Cluster (2009) Lessons learned in WASH Response during Urban Flood Emergencies, WEDC, Loughborough University, UK.
Government of Haiti (2010) Haiti Earthquake Post Disaster Needs Assessment, Government of Haiti.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2010) From Sustaining Lives to Sustainable Solutions: The Challenge of Sanitation in Haiti, IFRC, Geneva.
Muench, E., Patel, D. and Wirseen, C. (2009) ‘Peepoo: A new sustainable sanitation system for urban informal settlements’, IWA Development Congress, Mexico DF, 15-19 November 2009.
Oxfam GB (2010) WASH Research and Development Strategy, Oxfam GB, Oxford, UK.
The Sphere Project (2004) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, Oxfam GB, Oxford.
UNDP (2006) Human Development Report. Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis, UNDP, New York.
UN OCHA (2010) ‘Key Facts and Figures’, internal document, UN OCHA, New York.
WHO/UNICEF (2010) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, Estimates for the use of Improved Sanitation Facilities: Haiti, WHO, Geneva; UNICEF, New York.
Fenner, R., Gutherie, P. and Piano, E. (2007) ‘Process selection for sanitation systems and wastewater treatment in refugee camps during disaster-relief situations’, Water and Environment Journal 21: 252-64.
Global WASH Cluster (2009) Lessons learned in WASH Response during Urban Flood Emergencies, WEDC, Loughborough University, UK.
Government of Haiti (2010) Haiti Earthquake Post Disaster Needs Assessment, Government of Haiti.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2010) From Sustaining Lives to Sustainable Solutions: The Challenge of Sanitation in Haiti, IFRC, Geneva.
Muench, E., Patel, D. and Wirseen, C. (2009) ‘Peepoo: A new sustainable sanitation system for urban informal settlements’, IWA Development Congress, Mexico DF, 15-19 November 2009.
Oxfam GB (2010) WASH Research and Development Strategy, Oxfam GB, Oxford, UK.
The Sphere Project (2004) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, Oxfam GB, Oxford.
UNDP (2006) Human Development Report. Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis, UNDP, New York.
UN OCHA (2010) ‘Key Facts and Figures’, internal document, UN OCHA, New York.
WHO/UNICEF (2010) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, Estimates for the use of Improved Sanitation Facilities: Haiti, WHO, Geneva; UNICEF, New York.
Fenner, R., Gutherie, P. and Piano, E. (2007) ‘Process selection for sanitation systems and wastewater treatment in refugee camps during disaster-relief situations’, Water and Environment Journal 21: 252-64.
Global WASH Cluster (2009) Lessons learned in WASH Response during Urban Flood Emergencies, WEDC, Loughborough University, UK.
Government of Haiti (2010) Haiti Earthquake Post Disaster Needs Assessment, Government of Haiti.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2010) From Sustaining Lives to Sustainable Solutions: The Challenge of Sanitation in Haiti, IFRC, Geneva.
Muench, E., Patel, D. and Wirseen, C. (2009) ‘Peepoo: A new sustainable sanitation system for urban informal settlements’, IWA Development Congress, Mexico DF, 15-19 November 2009.
Oxfam GB (2010) WASH Research and Development Strategy, Oxfam GB, Oxford, UK.
The Sphere Project (2004) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, Oxfam GB, Oxford.
UNDP (2006) Human Development Report. Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis, UNDP, New York.
UN OCHA (2010) ‘Key Facts and Figures’, internal document, UN OCHA, New York.
WHO/UNICEF (2010) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, Estimates for the use of Improved Sanitation Facilities: Haiti, WHO, Geneva; UNICEF, New York.
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