RISK-E-SCAPE - lmproving disaster health and climate resilience at the expanded environmental crisis in Nepal and Bangladesh

The convergence of COVID-19 with natural hazards have reshaped the disaster riskscape in Southeast Asia, which has been deteriorated by the climate changes and the current environmental crisis. In their attempt to deal with the pandemic Nepal and Bangladesh have been also hit by multiple natural disasters (cyclones, heatwaves, landslides, and volcanic eruptions). RISK-E-SCAPE project encourages the recovery path from this expanded risk environment through the capacity building of Partner Countries HEIs in disaster health management and public health. The project objects to address the growing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation in Southeast Asia, providing academic activities in disaster health and environmental studies to Partner Countries HEIs through the development of open courses, the design and implementation of drills in Nepal and Bangladesh as well as the establishment of RISK-E-SCAPE Hubs as nexus of academic community, policy makers, civil society organizations for the preparedness, respond and recovery in environmental disasters. RISK-E-SCAPE promotes the capacity building at a multiprofessional and multidisciplinary level in disaster health in environmental crisis, strengthening the mechanism for multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration concerning the health sector and disaster management as well as preparing local authorities for emergency disaster preparedness. The project promotes equity in the educational activities, as well as the recovery and reconstruction process with particular attention to women and vulnerable or marginalised groups from low-income and/or rural area. Furthermore, it supports the Exchange of experiences, expertise and networking and bridging the EU acquis in pandemic/disaster health/ crisis in (SouthEast) Asia while supporting SDGs achievements