Jan 30, 2024 · Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas. Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical …

Jul 27, 2023 · Climate change is altering the world in which we live in. Weather has become more extreme, and natural disasters happen more often than before. Flash floods have emerged as a persistent threat, endangering lives, homes, and livelihoods. Amidst this perilous environment, a silent killer lurks—the risk of drowning. Often underestimated, even knee-high water levels can …

Jun 23, 2022 · The dreadful flood in Bangladesh is deeply concerning, and I am saddened by the suffering of millions of flood-affected people in the country. My prayers and heartfelt condolence go to them and to those who have lost loved ones,” said Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative in Bangladesh, World Health Organization.The floods started on 17 May 2022 …

Apr 10, 2014 · Heavy rains from 3 to 5 April 2014 resulted in flash flooding in Honiara, the capital city of Solomon Islands. The Government declared a state of emergency in Honiara and the rest of Guadalcanal province. Over 52,000 people are affected across the entire country; many have lost their homes and livelihoods. The death toll has risen to 23.

During the evening of 23 July 2018, torrential rain overwhelmed a dam in the south of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. A tsunami-like wave inundated villages and wiped out houses, crops and roads. Continued rains and flooding left some areas accessible only by helicopter. From the first hours of the disaster, WHO worked hand in hand with the Lao Ministry of Health …

Jan 29, 2020 · The most common risks associated with flooding is the contamination of drinking-water facilities, and standing water, which can be a breeding site for mosquitoes, bring chemical hazards, and cause injuries. Protect your health during a flood by:

Nov 20, 2024 · Healthier environments could prevent almost one quarter of the global burden of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic is a further reminder of the delicate relationship between people and our planet. Clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural …

Apr 26, 2023 · Marking World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is issuing a call for increased implementation of new and existing interventions to save lives from malaria.

Apr 29, 2020 · Earthquakes can strike suddenly and without warning. An earthquake is a violent and abrupt shaking of the ground, caused by movement between tectonic plates along a fault line in the earth’s crust. Earthquakes can result in the ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides, fissures, avalanches, fires and tsunamis. The extent of destruction and harm caused by an …

Nov 2, 2023 · Drought is a prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world. It is a slow-onset disaster characterized by the lack of precipitation, resulting in a water shortage. Drought can have a serious impact on health, agriculture, economies, energy and the environment.