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Policy Brief in ICT Applications in the Knowledge Economy, No. 4, September 2009: Information and Communications Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction
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| Author(s):
Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction (IDD)
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| Economic Sector(s):
(1) Information and communication technologies; (2) Protection of and assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons |
| ESCAP Reference
No.: |
| Division/Office:
Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Published Date:
2009 |
| Country:
{Sub-regional Publication} |
| Hard Copy Price:
N/A
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| Extreme weather conditions and natural disasters are taking an increasing toll, in both human and economic terms. Globally, 2008 was the third most expensive year on record in regard to disaster-related economic damage. In the Asia and the Pacific region, 2008 was marred by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar and killed an estimated 130,000 people, and the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province in China, which affected millions and left more than 85,000 dead.
It is widely recognized that information and communications technology (ICT), including space-based technology, plays an important role in establishing effective early warning systems and successfully conducting emergency preparedness and response activities. Aimed at policy- and decision-makers from developing countries working on disaster risk reduction in the Asia and the Pacific region, this policy brief discusses ICT infrastructure and applications for disaster risk reduction. |
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