Launch of the 2013 IFRC World Disasters Report

Using technology to improve humanitarian action and save lives is a responsibility, not a choice!

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nation Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), the Royal Norwegian Embassy Permanent Mission to the International Organisations in Vienna and the Austrian Red Cross are jointly organizing the presentation of the 2013 edition of the World Disasters Report with Focus on technology and the future of humanitarian action.

Wednesday 30th of October from 14.00 – 16.00
Vienna International Centre (VIC)
C-Building, Conference Room C1, (2nd Floor)

This year’s edition of the World Disasters Report examines the profound impact of technological innovations on humanitarian action. The responsible use of technology offers concrete ways to make humanitarian assistance more effective, efficient and accountable and can directly reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience. Finding ways for advances in technology to serve the most vulnerable is a moral imperative; a responsibility, not a choice. The event will highlight key findings of the report and how governments, humanitarian actors, private sector and academia are currently using and advancing technology to address global problems. The event will also provide an opportunity to discuss potential future innovations in humanitarian work.

Speakers

• Patrick Vinck, Editor of the World Disasters Report 2013 and Associate Faculty, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
• Matthias Schmale, Under Secretary General of National Society and Knowledge Development, IFRC
• Andreas Papp, Delegate and Program Director, MSF-Austria
• Luc St-Pierre, Space Applications Section, UNOOSA
• Christophe Bois iMMAP, CartOng, NOMAD


• Moderation by Max Santner, Head of International Cooperation, Austrian Red Cross

Registration

The registration will be open until Monday 28th of October. Non-holders of the VIC passes, please submit your name and organisation by e-mail to Mr. Markus Woltran (markus.woltran [at] unoosa.org), and present this invitation, together with an appropriate identification document at the entrance of the Vienna International Centre.
Participation in the event is free of charge.

Practical information
Coffee and cake will be served at 15.00 pm outside the Conference Room. Please note that the event will be held in English only and no translation will be provided. For more information on the World Disasters Report, please visit www.ifrc.org/wdr2013