Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to address you on such a vital topic.
We know digital technologies can save lives when disaster strikes.
They can be used to warn people even before a disaster, facilitate the emergency response during a disaster, and accelerate recovery after a disaster. The effective use of such technologies is thus essential to the resilience of our communities.
At the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), we are committed to connecting the world and ensuring everyone benefits from information and communication technology networks and services, including in disaster situations.
Communication is often one of the first casualties of a disaster, at precisely the time it is needed most. In such times, ITU is on standby to deploy satellite telecommunication equipment if requested to restore the communication links so essential for coordinating between government agencies and humanitarian organizations.
To reduce response times, we have pre-positioned satellite equipment in all our ITU regions, including Bangkok, Barbados, Dubai, Geneva and Zimbabwe. Additionally, we have conducted capacity-building workshops offering hands-on training on the use of our satellite equipment.
Response efforts are crucial, but disaster preparedness is equally vital, including through early warning systems. The UN Early Warnings for All initiative (EW-4-All) was launched in 2022 by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. It aims to ensure everyone on earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027.
This is a response to the growing frequency and intensity of disasters, like the recent floods in west and central Africa. Early warning systems not only help mitigate the impacts of disasters, but are also a proven climate adaptation measure, offering an estimated tenfold return on investment.
ITU is the lead for EW4All's "Warning Dissemination and Communication" pillar – also called Pillar 3 - which means that once a risk or hazard is identified, we must ensure timely warnings are communicated, enabling those at risk to safeguard their lives and livelihoods.
The initiative is spearheaded by ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau in close collaboration with other ITU sectors. Together with our partners and other pillar leads, we have already begun implementing this initiative in various countries, including in Africa. These include Ethiopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa.
Today, you will hear more about the roles played in these efforts by different sectors, as well as the growing opportunities presented by digital technologies.
The rapid expansion of digitalization, particularly the internet and mobile networks, has transformed our ability to reach populations with critical information. Today, 95% of the world's population has access to a mobile network and four in five individuals own a mobile phone. In Africa, that figure is 63% and rising, opening up unprecedented opportunities to reach billions of people before, during and after disasters.
So, we are deeply engaged in fundraising and resource mobilization, with a particular focus on Africa. To date, we have mobilized over 4 million USD to support EW4All in African countries, but we are still not reaching all those who need our support.
Our efforts to secure additional resources are ongoing, with the goal of empowering African countries to harness the power of digital technologies to save lives. Today's webinar will inform you about EW4All's progress so far, gather valuable feedback and enlist the support of our technical community to ensure our efforts are aligned to maximize the potential of ICTs in disaster management so all African countries can enhance their resilience, protect their citizens and ultimately save lives.
Thank you!
