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A network set up by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Kansai University to prevent avoidable deaths is hosting five sessions at a United Nations event for the humanitarian sector.

The (ADN) was founded by Professor Nibedita Ray-Bennett, Professor of Risk Management at the University’s School of Business to investigate the causes and circumstances of avoidable deaths and develop workable solutions to prevent them.

The network is currently conducting projects related to six avoidable disaster death themes: disaster education; maternal deaths from unsafe abortion and post-abortion complications; direct and indirect deaths; tsunami deaths, snakebite deaths and drowning deaths.

A current example of the network’s positive impact is the development of lifesaving kits for women in India and Bangladesh who are at risk from complications following unsafe abortions during disasters.

The network will host sessions for the first time at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) from 17 to 28 March in Geneva, Switzerland.

In May 2024, ADN became a UNOCHA Networks and Partnerships Group member under the Leading Edge Programme. As part of this programme, individuals and organisations can organise sessions at the UNOCHA’s annual conference, which is one of the foremost gatherings of the humanitarian sector.

The five sessions will led by Mount Royal University, Canada; Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh; Prepared International, Germany; Disaster Management Advice and Training Consulting KG, Austria; and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of Business.

The session topics include: land-based approaches to human-induced disaster adaptation; the impact of climate-related disasters on early marriages and reproductive health; the role of social media during disasters and crisis communication in reducing disaster deaths; anticipatory action and novel strategies to reduce avoidable disaster deaths across South Asia, Africa, Canada, and Europe.

Professor Ray-Bennett, who is also Associate Director at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Institute for Environmental Futures, said: “Becoming a UNOCHA Networks and Partnerships Group Member is a significant milestone for ADN.

“It is wonderful to provide a platform to five organisations in year one and raise the visibility of avoidable deaths at high-level global platforms such as the HNPW.

“It is an excellent opportunity for networking and representing the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Institute for Environmental Futures”.

Visit the website for more information on the event and to register.