June 2014, Hiroshima, Japan - The UNITAR Hiroshima Office recently completed training on the adoption of a Green Economy to 20 representatives of the Government of Afghanistan. Hailing from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Economy, and in a programme delivered in close collaboration with the Afghanistan Civil Service Institute and UNDP Afghanistan, the participants represented both Kabul based Civil Servants, as well as Provincial Directors, allowing for some very focused discussions as to the on-the-ground implementability of the issues presented.

May 2014, Geneva, Switzerland – The third edition of the UNOSAT training on “Rapid Response Mapping in Disaster Situations” was delivered by expert trainers from 30 April to 02 May 2014 in Geneva. This special training is part of the CERG-C post-graduate specialisation of the University of Geneva in the field of geological and climate related risk. 

May 2014, Geneva Switzerland - UNOSAT spearheaded a series of discussion sessions on “Collaborative Approach Fostering Global Peace and Prosperity” part of the 2014 Geospatial World Forum (GWF) that took place at the Geneva International Conference Centre on 8-9 May. The Forum is one of the largest annual events for the geospatial community. This year the GWF theme was “geoSMART Planet: Resources, Infrastructure and You”. UNITAR-UNOSAT was a strategic partner and co-organizer of the event.

08 May 2014, Geneva, Switzerland - Heavy rains that begun in April in northern Afghanistan have caused flooding and one catastrophic landslide that killed an unknown number of people. Additional flash floods and landslides continue to affect tens of thousands of people in many parts of the northern region while forecasts indicate more bad weather is to be expected.

The UNITAR Hiroshima Office recently concluded the 11th Cycle of its highly regarded training series on the management and conservation of World Heritage Sites, held between 14-18 April. Attended by 21 participants from countries including South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Thailand, the week-long workshop examined the processes required for the justification for the inscription of cultural landscapes in world heritage site nominations.

22 April 2014, Geneva, Switzerland – The fourth edition of the UNOSAT master training on “Geo-Information in Disaster Situations” was delivered by UNOSAT experts from 26 March to 15 April.

16 April 2014, Geneva, Switzerland - Solomon Islands have been dramatically impacted by floods that began in early April and continued for over one week causing 21 deaths and an estimated 52,000 affected across Honiara City and greater Guadalcanal. OCHA reports that over 10 UN agencies are in Honiara to distribute relief supplies and to provide expertise across coordination, protection, health, logistics and water, sanitation and hygiene in a situation made complex by the destruction of infrastructure, the contamination  of water and the scarcity of medical supplies.

Despite being the most abundant resource in the world, only about 2.53% of water is freshwater usable for agriculture, human consumption and industrial purposes. Therefore, knowledge of international law governing the management of freshwater resources is indispensable.