The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo was overtaken by rebels in January 2025. The city is also just 12 miles (19km) from Mount Nyiragongo, one of the most dangerous active volcanoes in the world.

Goma illustrates how millions of people in fragile, violent and conflict-affected parts of the world are at risk of both human-made and natural disasters. When these disasters interact, they can multiply and increase negative impacts.

Situations like those in the DRC inspired a new UN handbook to increase disaster preparedness and action in fragile, conflict-affected and violent contexts.

In an article for The Conversation, Feinstein Senior Researcher Dr. Evan Easton-Calabria shares learnings from her work as the lead drafter of the new UN handbook.

Early warning systems — and the early action they enable — can address the intersecting vulnerabilities that arise from conflict and climate impacts, minimizing suffering in some of the world’s most complex environments.

Read the article in The Conversation.