Safe water for the nutrition and heat-related health of displaced women

Most internally displaced people (IDPs) are located in the global tropics, often in heat-exposed shelter without electricity, and are vulnerable to food insecurity, meaning they often experience heat stress and undernutrition simultaneously.

Over the past decade, research has also shown a concerning correlation between exposure to heat stress and undernutrition outcomes; however, there has been limited investigation into the exact mechanisms that connect heat stress and undernutrition and none relating these to IDP mobility. As a result, no policies have been made to address these interactions.

In late 2024, an interdisciplinary group of researchers with expertise in thermal physiology, nutrition, displacement and heat-health came together to investigate the complex relationship between mobility, heat stress and undernutrition in the lives of internally displaced women.

This briefing shares some of the key findings of the project along with research and policy implications.