International Charter

The International Charter: Space and Major Disaster was activated on 5 April by UNITAR/UNOSAT on behalf of UN ESCAP and UN OCHA in the Solomon Islands due to heavy rainfall which caused flash flooding.

Most affected is the area of the Capital, city of Honaira, where thousands of people are displaced, 19 have been killed and almost 30 are still missing. The 48 hours heavy rainfall caused the rivers around the capital to burst their banks, destroying important infrastructure points – bridges and main roads.

The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters was activated on 21 March 2014 to provide satellite image products in support of the response efforts for floods in the northern regions of Brazil. The mechanism was triggered by the Brazilian Disaster and Risk Management National Centre (CENAD).

The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters was activated in Indonesia on 13 February by one of UN-SPIDER's Regional Support Offices, the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, in order to provide satellite-based emergency maps for a volcanic eruption in Indonesia. The mechanism was activated on behalf of the Indonesian Natio

The International Charter Space and Major Disasters was activated because of ongoing heavy storms have caused flooding across the UK. One person has been reported killed and more than 300 properties flooded so far.

Flooding is expected alongside the big rivers – Thames, Severn and Stour. Roads and train services have been disrupted.

On 17 December 2013, the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters was activated, as requested by UNITAR/UNOSAT on behalf of UNOCHA, due to flood and a storm in Gaza Strip. Since 12 December, a winter storm, Alexa, has struck the Middle East causing days of snow and heavy rain. The, reportedly, worst storm of the region in over sixty years, has resulted in flooding in the Gaza Strip that has forced the evacuation of over 5000 people.