News – Page 14 – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

April 23, 2023April 25, 2023

Countries of the United Nations Begin Negotiations on Disaster Response and Preparedness for Future Pandemics

The United Nations organized three workshops spread across late February aimed at coordination and planning during disasters. The enhancement of disaster preparedness and response at the provincial level will allow for effective actions to be taken during disasters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Law and Cooperative Department in Lumbini Province, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law (MolAL) in Karnali Province, and the MolAL in Sudurpaschim Province led the workshops as they are most knowledgeable in coordinating responses during disasters.

April 23, 2023April 25, 2023

Cyclone Freddy Leads to Humanitarian Crisis in South Africa

Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the South African nations of Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar during the first few months of 2023, leading to a death toll of over 600 people. Aid organizations continue to work towards providing maximum relief for those injured, missing, and displaced in what may be the longest-ever recorded tropical cyclone in human history.

April 10, 2023June 13, 2023

California is Improving Disaster Preparedness and Response Through Wildfire Modeling

Firefighters during the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County, California. Photo courtesy of Reuters.

Increased incidences of natural disasters such as wildfires are an expected byproduct of climate change. Wetter winters, drier summers, and hotter temperatures are predicted for North America’s west coast in coming years, with recent atmospheric rivers putting California in even further danger of a worsened wildfire season. In preparation for a major fire disaster, California must leverage modern technologies such as wildfire spread models.

April 2, 2023April 25, 2023

Philadelphia Officials Monitor Water Supply Following Chemical Spill

On the evening of Sunday March 26, officials retracted a bottled water advisory made that morning. This advisory was issued after a pipe rupture at the Trinseo PLC chemical plant, which released about 8,100 gallons of an acrylic polymer solution into Otter Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This incident took place around a month after a similar chemical leak from a train in East Palestine, Ohio.

April 2, 2023April 3, 2023

Measles Outbreak in Nepal

On January 2, 2023, a measles outbreak was confirmed in Nepalgunj, a city in the Banke district of Nepal. This is following a cluster of cases in the area in which individuals had symptoms of fever and rash. Nepal suffers from yearly measles outbreaks because citizens aren’t sufficiently protected against the disease however, the magnitude and extent of this outbreak are high compared to previous years.

March 26, 2023March 27, 2023

Countries of the World Health Organization Begin Negotiations On Global Agreement to Prevent Future Global Health Disasters

The countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have begun negotiations on a global agreement to protect nations in the event of a future pandemic or global health disaster. The “Pandemic Accord” created will include all 194 nations that are members of the WHO, as they share the collective aim to prevent future health disasters.

March 17, 2023April 25, 2023

Climate Change in Afghanistan Leads to Water Crisis

Afghanistan is currently in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis. The nation is facing a multitude of challenges that threaten its access to clean water: climate change, internal strife, and a lack of infrastructure have led to a water crisis, leaving many Afghans with minimal potable water.

March 14, 2023March 20, 2023

Snow Hits San Bernardino Mountains Leaving Residents Trapped

San Bernardino County, in Southern California, has suffered from heavy snow storms throughout February. Over eight feet of snow collected in the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, trapping families and collapsing roofs.

March 7, 2023March 20, 2023

Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio Releases Toxic Chemicals

A train carrying toxic chemicals has raised concerns about air, soil, and water pollution in the region.

A train carrying chemicals and combustible materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3rd. Due to poor safety measures, a toxic flammable gas called vinyl chloride caused the derailed train to explode, covering the town in thick black smoke.