October 2020

It is indisputable that Covid-19 is a tragedy, claiming thousands of lives and crippling economies and livelihoods worldwide. But in Sri Lanka, where the death toll and number of cases have been relatively and significantly low, does Covid-19 qualify as a disaster? We ask Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga, Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the University of Huddersfield, UK, and the Head of its Global Disaster Resilience Centre.

Professor Dilanthi speaks to the Sri Lankan Nespaper Aruna on multi hazard disaster preparedness

The annual £1 million Newton Prize celebrates outstanding international research partnerships between the UK and Newton countries, enabling international research partners to continue working together to address some of the world’s most pressing health and development issues such as malaria, antimicrobial resistance and climate change.

Coastal urban areas are particularly exposed to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, which tend to hit the poorest and most marginalised people the hardest. The recent flooding and tsunamis in Indonesia highlight the devastation caused by coastal hazards, and the urgent need to build the resilience of coastal communities.