Disaster Risk Reduction Day at CEU

October 19, 2019

On Oct. 14th CEU community took part in the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day.   

In an event organised by Syslabparticipants were joined by Daniela MangioneResilience Regional Focal Point and Programme Officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Martin Fisher, Humanitarian Officer, Ivana Vucorepresentative of USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Laszlo Pinterhead of the CEU’s Department of Environmental Sciences & Policy, and Anastasia Kvasha, PhD candidate at CEU. Presentation by Ms. Mangione on “Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture and Resilience of Rural Livelihoods” was followed by the panel discussion on how international policies and geographic information systems can help manage disasters, facilitated by the Head of Systems Laboratory, Viktor Lagutov. Later that day, participants also took part in a Mapathon (crowdsourcing mapping event) which was focusing on the areas affected by typhoon Hagibis in Japan. 

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was first held in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. The speakers of the DRR Day at CEU focused on international organizations’ efforts and challenges in assisting in natural disasters. These are reflected in this year’s dedication of the International DRR Day to the reduction of damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services. 

The day was concluded by a Missing Maps Mapathon – part of an international project focusing on supporting the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). A Mapathon is a great opportunity for volunteers to digitally connect and map most vulnerable places so that local and international NGOs can use these maps and data to better respond to crises. During the event, the areas affected by typhoon Hagibis were mapped to help the local rescue services. The event was particularly important because of the rising death toll and people left without power or water in Japan. 

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