Raising Awareness of Avoidable Deaths
Each year this booklet will be extended, gradually increasing the number of Avoidable Deaths being raised awareness of.
2026: Raising Awareness of 23 Avoidable Deaths Booklet
Avoidable Disaster Deaths Framework
According to the Avoidable Disaster Deaths (ADD) framework, disaster deaths can be broadly classified into three categories (although these distinctions are not always clear in real life):
1. Preventable avoidable deaths
2. Amenable avoidable deaths
3. Disaster risk governance–related avoidable deaths (Ray-Bennett, 2025, p. 3).
As Ray-Bennett (2025, pp. 49–50) explains, “Amenable and preventable deaths are caused by a lack of timely and preventive measures, while disaster risk governance deaths occur due to weak disaster risk governance measures.”
For individuals interested in developing their own case studies, please refer to the following matrices:
- Matrix of Causes and Circumstances of Avoidable Disaster Death (Ray-Bennett, 2025)
- Matrix of Causes and Circumstances Surrounding Drowning Death (Ray-Bennett et al., 2025)
A few examples of avoidable disaster deaths are presented as excerpts from the research monograph: Ray-Bennett, N.S. (2025). Avoiding Disaster Deaths: Why Do So Many People Die? Springer Nature, Switzerland.
Avoiding Disaster Deaths: Why Do So Many People Die? Excerpts