05 January 2021, Maputo, Mozambique – UNOSAT delivered a technical training on the Applications of Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) for Operational Planning and Decision Making in Disaster Situations. Participants were from different line ministries and national institutions, including the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC). This training was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries and the Ministry of Science, Technology & Higher Education (MCTES) of Mozambique.
Mozambique is a particularly disaster-prone country. Cyclones are the most significant and recurrent hazards for the country. Between January and March, an average of 2 million people is exposed to cyclones every year. In 2019, TC-IDAI made landfall in central Mozambique during the night of 14 to 15 March, leaving more than 600 people dead and an estimated 1.85 million people in need in Mozambique alone. Drought and floods also have devastating impacts: at least 600,000 people are affected by drought every year, while flooding poses a threat to lowland, highland, and urban areas.
GIT plays a key role in understanding the geographic extent and severity of such hazards. UNOSAT’s experts have been able for several years to support the National Government and Disaster Management Authorities through satellite imagery analysis and data visualization. For instance, satellite imagery analysis following major disaster events, including Tropical Cyclone IDAI and Kenneth, which caused severe damage and economic losses in large Mozambique areas in recent years.
