The 3-5 August training workshop, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Palau, the Palau National Communication Corporation, the Pacific Island Telecommunications Associations and the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC), focused on how to use satellite imaging to enhance national disaster emergency response and risk reduction capacity.
Opening the workshop, H. E. Mr Kerai Mariur, Vice President and Minister of Finance, Republic of Palau, emphasized that disaster preparedness and response was crucial for Pacific island countries. “Due to our small geographical size and location we, like many other Pacific island countries remain vulnerable to natural and other disasters.”
Noting that satellite-based geographic information system (GIS) can be “very useful in saving lives in such critical times”, the minister expressed hope the workshop would improve the Republic of Palau’s ability to use geographically referenced data for quicker and more effective response to natural disasters.
