Establishing UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office and national focal point in Hungary

Press release

The United Nations General Assembly agreed on launching the UN-SPIDER (United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response) programme in December 2006 and in frame of it also agreed on setting up regional support offices worldwide. These essential centres support disaster management authorities and management of emergencies with space-based tools. The Hungarian Regional Support Office, functioning at Károly Róbert College was offered by the Government of Hungary on the call of UN General Assembly.

In frame of the 49th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS STSC) a cooperation agreement was signed with all solemnity between UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs) and Hungarian Károly Róbert College. Based on the agreement a Regional Support Office (RSO) was established in Gyöngyös, Hungary, which is the 12th RSO worldwide. Hungarian RSO supports the global UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER). Károly Róbert College is a cooperating partner of Hungarian disaster management.

Besides signing the RSO agreement, UNOOSA appreciated the fact that Hungary also registered UN-SPIDER National Focal Point, which is fulfilled by the MoI National Directorate General for Disaster Management (NDGDM).

Space-based tools could offer useful information for decision makers and responders during the whole disaster response cycle, as it was proved before during different type of disasters. The cooperation between the Károly Róbert College and NDGDM during past disasters has already proved that highly educated researchers from the field of remote sensing are able to provide great help when emergency occurs. Moreover, the establishment of RSO and NFP contributes to a more effective cooperation with OOSA UN-SPIDER as well.