An Assessment of the Impacts of Floods on Sanitation in Rural Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces multiple challenges in the sanitation, hygiene and water sector. This study aims to review the damage to sanitation facilities during floods. It also explored the possibilities of overcoming the negative impacts of floods on sanitation. The study was conducted among 880 households from selected flood affected areas of BRAC WASH programme. Though almost all the respondents mentioned flood to be the reason behind damage latrines, the study identified some other factors which might have significant role in the damage of the latrines during floods. Damage to the latrines could be prevented or reduced if they were installed by experts at a level at least higher than homestead. Measures should be taken to increase the awareness about market price to different sanitary materials.[BRAC-RED WP no.07]