Extreme weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis, as well as pandemics and other human made related hazards pose increasing challenges to countries and communities. Digital technologies are key for environmental monitoring, analysing information, delivering early warnings, and ensuring timely flow of vital information in the aftermath of disasters. ITU plays a critical role in disaster risk reduction and management.
The world is continuously facing different types of hazards, from extreme weather events, to tsunamis, earthquakes, vast pandemics, and other geological and human made related hazards, that pose continued challenges to countries and communities. There is mounting evidence about the link between human-induced climate change and extreme weather events, and clear humanitarian implications, with about half the world’s population highly exposed to worsening climate impacts. The impact is even worse for those living in remote and isolated areas with no access to basic information and communication facilities.
Emergency telecommunications play a critical role in disaster risk reduction and management. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to monitor the environment, analyze the information to deliver early warnings and alerts, and in the immediate aftermath of disasters by ensuring timely flow of vital information.
ITU plays an important role in emphasizing the critical role of ICTs in disaster risk reduction and management, and supports its Member States, in the four phases of disaster management through the design of national emergency telecommunications plans, the setting up of early warning and monitoring systems and the provision of emergency telecommunications equipment when disasters strike.
ITU membership has recognized the importance of countries identifying emergency telecommunication plans and the ITU Strategic Plan 2020-2023 included a specific target highlighting that by 2023 all countries should have a National Emergency Telecommunication Plan (NETP) as part of their national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. BDT continues to support countries with this target in mind and develops NETPs with and for countries.
Moreover, ITU develops Resolutions, Technical Standards and Recommendations to assist Member States in the use of telecommunication services and systems for disaster risk reduction, disaster management and humanitarian response.