As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a technical advisory support mission to Mongolia scheduled for July to December 2020 could not go ahead. Instead, UN-SPIDER offered the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia the services of a national consultant for five months in order to facilitate the use of space-based information in disaster management.
During this period, three capacity-building programmes were carried out with officials from various stakeholder agencies and provincial offices of the National Emergency Management Agency. The national consultant supported the strengthening of the Platform for Real-time Impact and Situation Monitoring, which was developed by the World Food Programme and the National Emergency Management Agency. The consultant also assisted the National Emergency Management Agency in becoming an authorized user of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters.
With a view to the provision of continued support in 2021, the National Emergency Management Agency and UN-SPIDER submitted a project proposal on a web-based integrated national disaster information system to the Resident Coordinator’s Office.
In 2019, UN-SPIDER and the Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka developed a geospatial dashboard that identifies indicators of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 that can be supported by Earth observation data and compiles key data sources available in the public domain and within government agencies in Sri Lanka.
In 2020, UN-SPIDER offered the Centre the services of a national consultant for five months. The consultant has been working with the Centre and the International Water Management Institute, a regional support office based in Sri Lanka. This collaboration is expected to lead to the creation of data content in the geospatial dashboard and facilitate the monitoring of Sendai Framework targets.
The General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) is part of the Ministry of the Interior, Public Security, Decentralisation and Customary and Religious Affairs.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey is an institution working to prevent disasters and minimize disaster-related damages, plan and coordinate post-disaster response, and promote cooperation among various government agencies. It introduced a novel disaster management model which prioritizes Turkey's transition from crisis management to risk management – which came to be known as the Integrated Disaster Management System. AFAD currently has 81 provincial branches across Turkey in addition to 11 search and rescue units.
Recently, two volcanoes in the Caribbean indicated increased activity: Mount Pelée on Martinique and the La Soufrière volcano on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Mount Pelée has been experiencing seismic activity and the La Soufrière volcano has been releasing gas. In light of this increased activity and the risk that a potential volcanic eruption poses to the environment and human life, a programme at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was activated earlier this year to monitor the region.
Recent advances in the implementation of open data policies such as those that facilitate access to satellite data and products of the Copernicus programme and the incorporation of cloud-based processing platforms such as Google Earth Engine are facilitating the use of Earth Observation to address challenges posed by natural hazards.
In collaboration with the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina, the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) recently launched a digital platform to improve the integration of satellite data for environmental monitoring in Latin America. The Comprehensive Regional Satellite Information System (SIRIS) provides access to satellite information in order to enhance decision-making and facilitate disaster management.
