USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) provides comprehensive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance to strengthen community resilience and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with WASH-related diseases and environmental health risks. WASH interventions often include the construction or rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation systems; distribution of critical items such as soap and water containers; environmental control for vector-borne diseases; and hygiene promotion activities. USAID/BHA also partners with institutions to help populations recover from natural disasters, including sudden-onset emergencies, that damage or destroy WASH infrastructure and exacerbate the risks of water contamination. USAID/BHA supports WASH programming that is integrated within other sector activities—such as health and nutrition—to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations by improving their ability to adapt to and recover from shocks and stressors.
