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The purpose of this article is to review the status of current research on how disaster response can best adapt to the urban environment. It looks specifically at water supply assistance, analysing the role and interaction of the various stakeholders and, in particular, the relationship between aid agencies and water utilities.

The review is based on published and unpublished documents produced on the response to emergencies having taken place in developing countries in the last 30 years.

The article reproduces statistical data on the rising trends in the incidence of disasters in cities, which emphasizes the relevance of the subject. It also shows that the experience accumulated in the last decade on the response to urban disasters suggests that partnerships between water utilities and aid agencies are beneficial. But the means to achieve this partnership require a more in‐depth analysis.

This review is based only on the literature and should be completed by a case study research in order to support and further develop its theses.

While the level of access to urban services in the developing countries has been extensively researched in “normal times”, there has been little exploration of its role in crisis situations. This article points out the value of such research and recommends that more analysis is carried out.