Disaster response refers to the immediate actions taken to address the emergency and aid affected individuals, communities, and infrastructure during and immediately after a disaster. The primary goal of disaster response is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and meet the basic needs of those affected by the disaster. It involves a coordinated effort among various stakeholders, including government agencies, emergency services, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community groups. The critical aspects of disaster response include emergency warning and communication, search and rescue, evacuation and sheltering, coordination and logistics, provision of necessities etc. Effective disaster response requires preparedness, coordination, and timely deployment of resources. It aims to stabilize the situation, provide immediate relief, and lay the foundation for subsequent recovery and long-term rehabilitation efforts.
GIC has been involved in disaster response activities through Sentinel Asia and International Disaster Charter since 2015. The initiative provides free satellite images for emergency responses during a major disaster event in Asia-Pacific and worldwide. In such events, various space agencies contribute to providing high-resolution optical and radar imagery. GIC processes the data and produces Value Added Products (VAPs) shared with the relevant agencies in disaster-affected areas. GIC also builds web and mobile applications to aid disaster response and validate the field data.
