Last week, at the workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction (RRD), organized by the Civil Protection and Fire Service (SPCB), a body attached to the Ministry of Interior, the Management Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN) exposed the potential of its product and service packages, with emphasis on the Satellite Data Explorer product for Drought Monitoring (Angola Drought Data Explorer), a tool websites developed in partnership with MIT (MIT).
The platform in question, according to GGPEN technicians, presents environmental, economic, political and technological analyzes related to the drought in Cunene province.
The Satellite Data Explorer for Drought Monitoring, although in its first stage of development, already presents thirteen variables of the environmental model component, highlighting the mapping, location and temporal distribution of surface waters, precipitation anomaly, indices of standardized precipitation, key elements for water resources management and drought monitoring. For the second phase of the web tool, it is expected that it includes the elements of prediction of droughts and floods.
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It should be noted that the event, held within the commemorations of November 30th (SPCB Day) and in allusion to the activities of October 13th, International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, was chaired by the Chief Fire Commissioner, Bensau Mateus, Commander National Civil Protection and Fire Service, which, speaking to journalists, showed the deep interest and perception of the usefulness of the products and services presented by GGPEN, as well as reinforced that the SPCB considers GGPEN a strategic partner in the area of product development of technological solutions using satellite technology to reduce disaster risks.
It should also be noted that the meeting was attended by a wide range of Angolan civil society, as well as institutional, highlighting representatives of the Executive Secretariat of the National Civil Protection Commission, representatives of UNDP, UNFPA, members of the Operational Council of the Civil Protection and Fire Service and partners who work in the areas of product development of technological solutions, in the field of health management, emergency social support and academia, all with the aim of reinforcing the importance of cooperation for the enrichment of knowledge, exchange of experience and know-how between the institutions and organizations in Angola.
Speaking at the closing of the event, Commissioner Manuel Lutango, Deputy Commander of the Civil Protection and Fire Service, thanked those present for participating in the meeting and stressed that the actions are not exhausted and that there is still much to be done in the field of risk reduction and disasters, which still have a long way to go, and it is necessary to work on updating and defining new strategies that will materialize and reflect on the lives of citizens and communities, within the framework of Sendai's priorities, objectives and goals.
