UNITAR’S OPERATIONAL SATELLITE APPLICATIONS PROGRAMME (UNOSAT)

UNOSAT is a technology-intensive programme delivering imagery analysis and satellite solutions to relief and development organisations within and outside the UN system to help make a difference in critical areas such as humanitarian relief, human security, strategic territorial and development planning. UNOSAT develops applied research solutions keeping in sight the needs of the beneficiaries at the end of the process.

A one-minute introduction video to UNOSAT Humanitarian Rapid Mapping service. Operational since 2003, this free service to the humanitarian community has been used so far in support of over 270 emergencies worldwide. On average, UNOSAT is requested to produce  satellite image analysis for emergency response to natural disasters and complex emergencies 35 times each year. Requests come from UN entities such as OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, WHO, IFRC, ICRC, from NGOs, and also from affected countries. A majority of activations are related to hydro-meteorological disasters, but an increasing number of them relate to conflict and complex emergencies occurring in areas of difficult or risky access by humanitarian workers. The results of UNOSAT analyses are shared as maps,  reports and GIS-ready data layers for direct integration into in-field and headquarter mapping systems.