Step by step disaster guidelines to be finalized following joint ECLAC WHO/PAHO training

During the course of this week, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) together with the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) will conduct a series of training workshops on disaster assessment in Peru. The joint workshop will focus on the “Evaluation of the Socio-economic Impact of Disasters in the Health, Water and Sanitation sectors” and takes place on 6-7 February in Lima, and 9-10 in Piura.

The workshops are part of WHO/PAHO’sefforts to finalise a step-by-step field guide on assessing disasters. The guide relies on the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology developed by ECLAC, and builds on various joint initiatives carried out by ECLAC and WHO/PAHO in the field of disaster assessment over the past years. The guide is designed for health, water and sanitation practitioners and focuses on the evaluation of the effects and impacts of emergencies and disasters. The guide is to be utilised first in Peru and then be disseminated to the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. 

According to the Coordinator of ECLAC Caribbean’s Sustainable Development and Disaster Unit, Mr. Omar Bello, who is leading the team, “the trainings will focus on the social aspects of a disaster, with particular attention on issues such as health and water and sanitation.” 

These sessions will benefit approximately 90 professionals from line ministries, national organizations and universities with experience in the areas of planning, economics and disaster risk management.