1258 | | Disasters and Human Health | Aakriti Grover (1); Ashique V.v. (1)

Globally, the types, intensities, as well as magnitude of disasters, have increased manifold causing massive destruction, morbidity, loss of life and biodiversity. Human beings are at the helm of their surroundings for development and any disruption poses a massive threat to progress, happiness and sustainability. It is interesting to note that a newer variety of both natural and anthropogenic disasters have been introduced in the 20th century that coincides with development. Some notable examples are dam burst/failures, nuclear war, fire, air/road/rail accidents, cloud bursts, epidemics and building collapses to name a few.
Disasters have a considerable impact on human health and day-to-day functioning but quantification of the impact, in particular mortality, is very challenging. As per the WMO estimates, from 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards accounted for 50% of all disasters, 45% of all reported deaths and 74% of all reported economic losses. More than 90% of the deaths occur in developing countries. It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people were affected by disasters, including over 700,000 people losing their lives, more than 1.4 million people being injured, and approximately 23 million people made homeless in a decade from 2005 to 2015.
 
It is well-known fact that disasters cannot be avoided completely, however, with proper planning and vision the impact of disasters can be reduced or even avoided. For this, the disaster management cycle should be interpreted with respect to human health and disaster medicine. Preparation without warning is the key to promoting good health and well-being in during and post-disaster stages. The interdisciplinary knowledge of geographers accompanied by the use of geospatial technology can help contribute in varied areas of disaster preparation and response, including hazard vulnerability analyses, resource allocation, and the creation of disaster legislation. The session on disasters and human health will try to explore means through which mapping and geographical knowledge can save lives and bring happiness to disaster-stricken communities.
Despite the unpredictable nature of disasters, it is incumbent for researchers in this area to utilize strong research designs to achieve the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030s that aims to “substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015.” Additionally, it will also contribute to goal number 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 and 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Session type: PresentationLanguage: English

Aakriti Grover (1); Ashique V.v. (1)
(1) Central University of Tamil Nadu, India

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