The exercise was a two day theoretical and practical simulation exercise conducted against the backdrop of an earthquake felt across the island. The theoretical part (first day) a workshop dedicated to Table exercise with all actors of civil protection, where were presented the benefits of GMES ERS tools, and discussed all the practical steps the next day took place in the Ribeira Grande City Hall. The practical part (second day) maps were produced using GMES ERS resources and mobilized for rescue forces in the field, including the three fire departments of São Antão (St. Anthony) took place in the Valley of Ribeira da Torre.

The exercise had the participation of municipalities of Ribeira Grande, Paul and Porto Novo. Cape Verde National Civil Protection Service, National Police, Fire Brigade, Red Cross of Cape Verde and Health Services supported and participated in it together with international partners, such as InfoTerra and RCMRD that produced the maps through Rapid Mapping technology.

The exercise allowed identifying strengths and weaknesses in the Cape Verde Civil Protection field:

Strengths:

1. Use of new tools to support emergency management
2. Main objectives were achieved and new techniques were transmitted
3. Participation of all actors of civil protection and including the three municipalities
4. Improving coordination between the civil protection agents
5. Identifying operational gaps

Weaknesses:

1. Lack of training of civil protection agents in joint activities
2. Communication failures in the field via radio and telephone

The exercise included a wide coverage of media and proved to be extremely important to show policy makers and agents of protection of the processes of rapid development of maps.

The media was informed well in advance of the completion of exercise, via press release, and direct telephone contacts. They did an excellent coverage of all activities of the year and there were three interviews for radio, one for television and three interviews for electronic newspapers.

The central theme of the conference is EARTH OBSERVATION & GEOINFORMATION SCIENCES FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: GLOBAL VISION AND LOCAL ACTION SYNERGY.

Participation in AARSE conference is open to all colleagues interested in or working in the fields of geo-information science, technologies and applications in Africa; abstracts received by the deadline will be considered for program placement under the standard peer review process. The AARSE_2012 Technical Program Committee will organize accepted abstracts into oral or interactive poster sessions, based upon the mode in which the material can best be presented, and the composition of high quality oral and interactive sessions. A first call for papers with more information about the conference will be issued by the end of this year.

For further information please see: http://www.aarse2012.org/

The workshop was attended by 35 particiapnts from 10 African countries (and 2 European countries) who work in the Disaster Risk Management and Reduction sector.  The workshop highlighted how the GMES initiative might be implemented in Africa – by Africans and for Africans using African infrastructure.  It also helped understand the link between GEO, GEOSS and the Charters; and how the International Charter can be better used by national agencies across Africa.  The workshop also showcased the role of some international and national organisations in disaster response and knowledge exchange – UN-SPIDER, CRASTE-LF, CRTS.  Discussions and presentations from participants helped understand how different countries are managing their disaster management/response activities in terms of infrastructure, training and education programmes and included real examples of success.

The workshop outcomes centred around the need to increase awareness of GMES as a whole, to establish and strengthen coordination and collaboration between GMES-Africa and local partners and the need for the continuation of the GARNET-E objective in its current form or as a major objective in the upcoming EU-funded programme – MESA (Monitoring of Environment and Security in Africa).  Training and knowledge exchange were deemed key to creating capacity for people to reproduce and deliver the products to inform disaster response and resource management decisions.

Although the GARNET-E project concludes at the end of April 2012 it is hoped that the networks created by this event will continue and build, and that links can be strengthened through the AARSE Conference to be held in El Jadida, Morocco in October.

This 2 days workshop will target the Northern Africa Disaster Risk Management community in addressing two main objectives:

- To introduce the GMES initiatives and GARNET-E particular offerings including training to the North African audience of decision-makers in the disaster management field, and

- To offer a platform for exchange of regional experiences and opportunities for closer cooperation on a regional scale.

Organisers, the CRTS in cooperation with AARSE and EIS-Africa would like to encourage the disaster risk management community to participate in this important network.

The theme for the workshop is: “Use of Space-based Technology (GMES and SAFER products) in Disaster Management and Emergency Response in West and Central Africa.”

The workshop will focus on background mapping of disasters in West and Central Africa covering various disaster types from desertification, drought and floods and will include practical, technical demonstrations.

A draft programme for the workshop can be found here:  Workshop Programme

Further information can be obtained from: edrectas@rectas.org

First contact was made with NigeriaSat-X and shortly afterwards with NigeriaSat-2, so it is going according to plan so far.  The first early images are expected within three weeks, with full operations within a few months. 

Many thanks for your continued interest in Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.  For updates check out www.sstl.co.uk and our twitter feed http://www.twitter.com/SurreySat.

GARNET-E partner RECTAS will host a regional training seminar focusing on space-based applications for flood risk management and emergency response.

Please see the brief information note about the event, both in English and in French.

Please feel free to also distribute it to other colleagues in your respective offices, or let us know if we should also send it to any others, or as a formal letter to any higher level officials in your organization.

A small number of qualified participants (from Togo and Cameroun) are planned to be supported with the limited funds we have available, to join the expert staff from Burkina Faso for the training.

http://www.un-spider.org/

In response to this disaster, several space-based mapping products have already been delivered by UNITAR/UNOSAT, DLR/ZKI in the framework of SAFER, as well as the National Disaster Reduction Center of China (NDRCC).

UN-SPIDER is coordinating with agencies such as WFP and OCHA to facilitate the dissemination of  Areas of Interest (AoI), needs and available resources. In addition, UN-SPIDER is cooperating with other institutions, in particular NDRCC, to facilitate the acquisition of additional data and mapping assistance.

Respective space-based information and details have been made available and will be continuously updated at: http://www.un-spider.org/horn-of-africa-2011 
The UN-SPIDER SpaceAid Framework welcomes any support and information you may provide in response to this major disaster.

If you require additional information, please contact:  spaceaid@unoosa.org

This rapid assessment of the Ethiopian border town of Dolo was done at the request of UNHCR in support of emergency humanitarian planning in the area following the recent influx of Somali refugees. Satellite imagery acquired on 17 July 2011 over the town was assessed for a number of thematic issues covering the possible presence of refugee/IDP settlements in the area, transportation, hydrology, rainfall and cultivation. This is a preliminary assessment and has not yet been validated in the field.

To view and download the mapping please see: UNOSAT_ETH_DR2011_Dolo-townAnalysis-17JULY2011_Report_v2.pdf (1.5MB)