Governing WASH for disaster risk reduction in Karonga Town, Malawi

Wanda, Elija M.M.; Manda, Mtafu; Kamlomo, Dominic; Kushe, James; Mphande, Chrispin; Kaunda, Jean; Msiska, O.V.

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.09.034

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The small but rapidly growing urban centre of Karonga (Karonga Town) is in the north of Malawi. Karonga's population is projected to increase from 41,000 inhabitants in 2008 to approximately 63,000 in 2018 (Wanda et al, 2017). The town is vulnerable to multiple small and large disaster risks and has been affected by earthquakes, drought and floods (Manda, 2014;Wanda et al, 2017).…”

Section: Karonga Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Karonga's population is projected to increase from 41,000 inhabitants in 2008 to approximately 63,000 in 2018 (Wanda et al, 2017). The town is vulnerable to multiple small and large disaster risks and has been affected by earthquakes, drought and floods (Manda, 2014;Wanda et al, 2017). Everyday risks such as poor-quality and inadequate sanitation and unsafe water also pose significant threats for inhabitants (Holm et al, 2018).…”

Section: Karonga Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the nature and scale of risks in Karonga remains poorly understood (Manda and Wanda, 2017). This is partly attributable to the lack of political attention to small towns throughout Malawi (Wanda et al, 2017).…”

Section: Karonga Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Uncertain pasts and risk-sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation

Pelling¹,

Barcena²,

Leck³

et al. 2021

African Cities and Collaborative Futures

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Section: Karonga Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Karonga Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Uncertain pasts and risk-sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation

Pelling¹,

Barcena²,

Leck³

et al. 2021

African Cities and Collaborative Futures

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“…Disaster risks can be partially mitigated in urban areas by improving the governance and delivery of services, for example, water services (Wanda et al, ). Fragmented institutional arrangements and overlapping mandates have been shown to result in poor disaster risk reduction following flooding in urban Senegal (Schaer, Thiam, & Nygaard, ).…”

Section: The Multiplicity Of Vulnerability To Climate Shocksmentioning

confidence: 99%

On considering climate resilience in urban water security: A review of the vulnerability of the urban poor in sub‐Saharan Africa

2019

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Climate shock-related water insecurity has a significant impact on poverty, and vice versa, with poor people adversely impacted by different hazards. Many studies have focused on rural communities resulting in a lack of evidence on the vulnerability of urban dwellers. In this review, we explore the literature on the vulnerability of the urban poor to floods, droughts, and cholera in Sub-Saharan Africa. We particularly highlight the structural challenges and systemic inequalities that are increasing the vulnerability of the urban poor including the differential experiences of women and children. We conclude that poor people have: unequal opportunities to cope with shocks, being deprived from access to water services that wealthier households have; their needs are inequitably ignored; and cumulative vulnerability that reverberates climate shocks into smaller consequences that can have dramatic effects. Therefore, the pathways out of poverty are limited for the urban poor. This is not only due to factors of political economy such as the location and construction materials of houses, but also legacies of discrimination and their reproduction. Individual vulnerabilities are frequently increased due to the roles and responsibilities assigned to people of particular genders and/or ages. We find that these differential vulnerabilities are crucial yet poorly researched. There is also a lack of evidence for the manifold effects of drought on the urban poor. Building on the urban climate resilience literature we argue that policy makers and practitioners must consider who water security is for.

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“…Much of the historical and contemporary view of ooding is that it is a hazard which threatens property and life, as well as development and social activity [2]. Floods challenge the normal functions of life, affecting homesteads, agricultural land, daily activities, water supply, sanitation conditions, and infrastructure as well as adversely impacting WaSH access and human health [3,4]. During a ood, water sources become contaminated, enhancing the spread of waterborne diseases, and adversely impacting human health [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact and adaptation to flooding: A focus on water supply, sanitation, and health in rural communities on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia

Milupi

Schuster‐Wallace

Janes

2022

Preprint

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Globally it is recognised that climate change impact is manifested through severe weather events that cause, for example, flooding. Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals. This paper investigates the impact of flooding on water supply and sanitation conditions together with flood-induced health problems on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia. The study also explored rural response measures and adaptation strategies. This study relied on intensive field investigation in May 2021 where 99 households from different villages in the floodplain were randomly sampled to participate in a questionnaire survey. Key informants, including government officials from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Local Government and Housing, were also interviewed. The findings showed that water supply and sanitation conditions are severely interrupted during flood periods, and this leads to various waterborne diseases. The findings further revealed that all pit latrines in the study area become submerged and therefore unsafe to use. Adaptation measures include boiling water before use and water disinfection using chlorine. Other, adaptive measures noted in the study area include open water defecation due to inundation of toilets, which further contaminates drinking water supplies.Based on the findings, the researchers propose that the government and other stakeholders should prioritise flood-proof water and sanitation facilities in the study area in order to improve the health of the rural community during floods.

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Governing WASH for disaster risk reduction in Karonga Town, Malawi

Cited by 11 publications

References 26 publications

Uncertain pasts and risk-sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation

Uncertain pasts and risk-sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation

On considering climate resilience in urban water security: A review of the vulnerability of the urban poor in sub‐Saharan Africa

Impact and adaptation to flooding: A focus on water supply, sanitation, and health in rural communities on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia

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