Statement of the situation or prob​​lem

The importance of telecommunications and ICTs to support disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery is well established. Over the study period from 2018 to 2021, ITU-D Study Group 2 Question 5/2 examined the use of ICTs in disaster risk reduction with case studies, examples of technologies, applications, checklists, guidelines for exercises and drills, planning aspects, etc. Before that, during the study period 2010-2017, the focus was on ''Utilization of telecommunications/ICTs for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response''. The year 2019-20 witnessed significant disaster events in terms of numbers and fatalities. There was widespread loss of lives and property. According to the Emergency event database, during 2019 a total of 396 natural disasters were recorded with 11 755 deaths, 95 million people affected and a total of USD 103 billion worth of economic loss across the world. The burden was not equally shared by the world, as Asia suffered the highest impact and accounted for 40% of disaster events, 45% of deaths and 74% of the total affected. Floods were the deadliest type of disaster, accounting for 43.5% of deaths, followed by extreme temperatures at 25% (mainly due to heatwaves in Europe) and storms at 21.5%. Storms affected the highest number of people, accounting for 35% of the total affected, followed by floods with 33% and droughts with 31%. There have been more wildfires reported in 2019 (14) compared to the annual average number of wildfires (9) during the period 2009-2018. Similarly, a greater number of floods (194) were recorded in 2019 compared to the annual average of 149 floods during the period 2009-2018.
By the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, the world had been hit by another disaster, namely the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. It resulted in widespread loss of lives across the world, unemployment and huge economic loss due to lockdown in various countries.
Most developed and developing countries recognize disaster communications as a priority and are taking steps to:
• ​build national preparedness plans;
• develop early warning systems; and
• put technologies and systems in place to ensure a disaster resilient system.

  ​ ​The latter system enables operational continuity and rapid restoration of networks which support the disaster communication requirements. This Question has been able to establish a baseline of information about country experiences, plans, tools, stakeholders and policies for disaster preparedness, mitigation and risk reduction, with guidelines for drills and exercises, policy guidelines, technologies related to disaster communications, etc. It will be possible for countries to incorporate these in their National Emergency Telecommunication Plans (NETP) so as to utilize the knowledge gained by exchange of information and best practices amongst the various countries. Based on the past two years' experience, it is felt that during the next phase of study the focus should be on disaster response and recovery, as telecommunications/ICTs can help in ensuring effective response and in recovery from the disasters. In view of the above, the next study Question for the year 2022-2025 should be: ''The use of Telecommunications/ICTs for disaster response and recovery"​.

  Question o​​r issue for study

  a) Continue examination of terrestrial, space based and integrated telecommunications/ICTs to assist affected countries in utilizing relevant applications for disaster prediction, detection, monitoring, early warning, response, relief and recovery, including consideration of best practices/guidelines for implementation, and in ensuring a favourable regulatory environment to enable rapid deployment and implementation.
  b) Continue gathering and examining national experiences and case studies in the use of telecommunications/ICTs for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, including response to pandemics like COVID-19, and analysing lessons learned and common themes between them.
  c) Examine the role that administrations and Sector Members and other expert organizations and stakeholders share in collaboratively addressing disaster management and the effective use of telecommunications/ICTs, particularly in the areas of disaster response and recovery.
  d) Examine the enabling environment for more resilient communication networks and for the deployment of emergency communication systems and the latest digital communication technologies, which includes, but is not limited to, emergency preparedness, response and recovery.
  e) Gather national experiences and case studies and develop best practices for the elaboration, implementation and refinement of national and regional disaster-management plans or frameworks for the use of telecommunications/ICTs in natural and man-made disaster and/or emergency situations including pandemics, working in coordination with the relevant BDT programmes, regional offices and other partners.
  f) Continue updating the online toolkit with relevant information and materials collected during the study period.
  

  Expected ​output​

  It is proposed that succinct outputs summarizing case studies and capturing lessons learned, best practices and tools/templates will be prepared and presented to the study Question for approval: Additionally, throughout the study period, Question 3/1 welcomes contributions on new technologies, systems and applications for disaster communications and management for mitigation, preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery, as well as considerations to support implementation. The focus will be on both technology examples and deployment case studies of new and emerging systems and applications for disaster communications and response. ​