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Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, professionals like Serhii are expanding their skill sets to adapt to new challenges. Serhii, a dedicated architect and a member of the UNESCO country team in Ukraine, shared his insights into his evolving role and the impact of recent training programmes on his work.
Serhii’s role involves the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to cultural heritage preservation and damage detection. Initially, he began with a foundational understanding of GIS and tools, primarily using them for basic mapping and documentation tas...
Beneficiary: Lu’isa Uai Taunga
Title: Officer, National Emergency Management Office, Tonga
Training: UNITAR Hiroshima Disaster Risk Reduction Training
“We are vulnerable to tropical cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought and flash floods and it’s an all year cycle,” said Lu’isa Uai Taunga, a citizen of the Kingdom of Tonga, who participated in the UNITAR Disaster Risk Reduction Training which concluded in November 2017., Lu’isa works as an officer with the Tongan organization NEMO, which stands for National Emergency Management Office. ...
Everlyn Fiualakwa (Solomon Islands) took part in the 2019 UNITAR Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. She is now back as a resource person.
Everlyn encourages communities to identify an evacuation site in which to store food supplies – an idea she got from the UNITAR course.
Women in the Solomon Islands are more vulnerable to disasters. Everlyn works to get more early warning signals out to women.
Everlyn also believes in planning. “Everyone can be prepared for disasters. They just need the tools.”
, Passion and prayers – that’s how Everlyn Fiualakwa of the...
September 2022, Hiroshima, Japan – On 6 August 2022, the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, Secretary-General António Guterres met with young activists from across Japan for a frank dialogue on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The discussion made an indelible impression on other Japanese youth who were there.
“The panellists were discussing worldly topics in English confidently and passionately,” said Shizuku Yamashima, a 17-year-old observer at the venue. Shizuku is one of the UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors who go to junior or senior...
Luisa Taunga, Secretary at Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Office, leads the Research and Training division focusing on disaster preparedness and response.In 2017, Luisa joined the first cohort of the UNITAR women’s leadership and disaster risk reduction training. She returned as a resource person for the 2023 training.Tonga’s vulnerability to disasters causes major challenges, particularly for remote islands with limited resources.Inspired by what she saw in Japan, Luisa designed and ran disaster risk reduction workshops for children and youth to increase communi...
Name: Julia Maciel
Organization: Permanent Mission of Paraguay in New York
Functional Title: Minister Counsellor
Country: Paraguay
Courses participated in: A series of courses on Conflict Resolution and Mediation organized by UNITAR’s New York Office and Columbia Law School
Julia Maciel is a Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Paraguay in New York. She took a series of courses on Conflict Resolution and Mediation organized by UNITAR’s New York Office and Columbia Law School.
Julia’s background encompasses Architecture, Diplomacy, and Intern...
Title: Chief Operations Officer of the National Emergency Operations Center
Country: Solomon Islands
Partnership: CommonSensing Project
Tropical Cyclones are regular and disastrous occurrences for the Solomon Islands. Each year the cyclone season brings powerful wind speeds and high storm surges, threatening SIDS. George Baragamu, Chief Operations Officer of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), situated in the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), in the Solomon Islands, knows the risks of such weather events too well.
George works to protect the country...
The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real-time. UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability ...
At the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Rovil Kumar, a scientific officer specializing in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), coordinates the development of maps and geospatial portals that contribute to Fiji's resilience to extreme weather events. As part of his role, he compiles various maps for climate monitoring, flood mapping, and forecasting of heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones. By doing so, Rovil and his team contribute significantly to Fiji's preparedness and response strategies. To harness the skills to develop these products, Rovil Kumar participated ...
Fiona Meke, an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Fisheries Studies at the Solomon Islands National University, is actively engaged in environmental research and conservation efforts in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific region. Passionate about marine ecosystems and coastal communities, Fiona's career path has been guided by her drive to understand and address the most pressing environmental challenges, particularly those affecting her own home in the Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific region. Recognising the relevance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in ...