The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has activated the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” for Typhoon Bebinca in Viet Nam, which made landfall on 17 August. UNOOSA activated the Charter on behalf of the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority.
Meteorologists forecasted wind speeds up to 90 kph and up to 300mm of rain in the coming days due to the typhoon, bringing the potential for severe flooding and landslides. More than 500,000 people, including soldiers, police officers and civilian volunteers, were mobilized by Viet Nam’s ministry of defence in order to help civilians in storm-affected areas. Border and coast guards from Quang Ninh down to Quang Binh Province also ordered mass evacuations of those living in the coastal regions.
The Charter activation aided disaster managers in Viet Nam to fully assess the impact of the typhoon and the extent of the floods, as well as helped to allocate resources and provide aid more effectively.
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office, acted as project manager for the activation. The Viet Nam Disaster Management, Policy and Technology Centre, which is a close national partner of UN-SPIDER, was acting as a Value Added Provider by assessing satellite imagery and developing maps.
Links to emergency mechanism activations can be found below
Links to data, maps and situational information
| DATE | AREA | MAP TYPE | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2018 | Viet Nam | International Charter Space and Major Disasters | |
