Dear readers,
We're glad to share with you the August 2020 UN-SPIDER Monthly Updates, and would like to make you aware of a new Recommended Practice on disaster preparedness using free software extensions. The Recommended Practice explains how remote sensing data about recurring floods, information about infrastructure and socio-economic data can be integrated using free and open source software to support prevention and preparedness efforts. It makes use, among others, of the InaSAFE plug-in for the desktop GIS software QGIS, and can be accessed on the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal.
Enjoy the read!
UN-SPIDER at a glance
10/08/2020In recent years, Mozambique has suffered severe floods and droughts that have impacted urban and rural communities throughout the country. In the March and April 2019, tropical cyclones Idai and Kenneth triggered major floods in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Comoros. The Port of Beira was hard hit, as cyclone Idai destroyed transmission lines and bridges, leaving the port without… Read more
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News from our Regional Support Offices
19/08/2020Regional Support Offices involved: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is leveraging space-based information to support government and humanitarian agencies in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region with timely information for flood early warning and inundation mapping. The efforts, which… Read more
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News from the community
20/08/2020According to the latest issue of an annual disaster statistics report, floods were the deadliest type of disasters in 2019, followed by extreme temperature, while storms affected the highest number of people. Published by the … Read more
13/08/2020At the end of 2019, countries in the Horn of Africa began to suffer the impacts of locust swarms. Later, the locust migrated to regions in Southwest Asia. Unfortunately, the impacts on farmers are devastating. Furthermore, the combined impact of these locust plague and COVID-19 is having a toll of the livelihoods of many farmers in these regions. The Food and… Read more
10/08/2020Floods are among the most frequent natural hazards around the world, as well as in Africa, and can trigger devastating disasters among the most vulnerable communities. Climate change, and inadequate land-use/land-cover changes can exacerbate this situation and may erode hard-won gains in many developing countries. The first step to reduce the impacts of such floods is to understand the… Read more
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