From 11 to 15 August 2014, a UN-SPIDER expert team visited Mongolia to evaluate the current and potential use of space-based information in all the aspects of disaster management and to strengthen the disaster risk management efforts in the country by providing better access to space-based information for disaster risk reduction as well as response. This Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) had been requested by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of Mongolia.
The mission team was comprised of eight international experts from UNOOSA/UN-SPIDER, Beijing, the University of Georgia, USA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Airbus Defence and Space, France, Asia Disaster Preparedness Centre, Thailand, National Disaster Reduction Centre of China, and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, China.
The team visited various Government offices, including NEMA, the Information and Early Warning Center, and the Remote Sensing Center (RSC). These meetings provided insight in the role of each organisation in disaster management and disaster risk reduction and in the use of space-based and geospatial information.
In addition, the TAM included a half day workshop held at the premises of NEMA, which was attended by over 40 participants from the academia, ministries, emergency services and international organisations. The workshop included presentations by NEMA, RSC, and by experts of the TAM team. Group discussions were held inviting the participants to think about priorities in using space technologies for disaster management and disaster risk reduction.
