Jörg Szarzynski, UN-SPIDER
The mission included a national seminar that provided a general overview regarding space-based information, UN-SPIDER’s role and existing international mechanisms such as the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters. The seminar focused on practical application of GIS and EO tools to address disaster preparedness and response planning. The national seminar brought together delegations from Madagascar and the Comores Island. Participants represented government institutions (National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), Bureau for Prevention and Emergency Response (CPGU), The Emergency Operations Center of the Civil Protection (COSEP), the Geographic and Hydrographic National Institute (FTM), and the National Meteorology Department of Madagascar), NGOs (COOPI, CARE, MDM, Medair, ICCO, RTM), the European Union, GTZ and various organizations of the United Nations.
The mission allowed UN-SPIDER to become aware of the technical capacity available in Madagascar and the Comores Island in the areas of disaster-risk management and emergency response. Representatives of these ministries, institutions and NGOs were made aware of the UN-SPIDER programme and its activities, of potential areas where space-based technology and information could play a greater role and on the type of support that the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters can provide.
