In response to the devastating Haiti earthquake in August 2021, the RO Demo initiated its third activation on September 6th. This activation was at the behest of the European Union (EU) on behalf of the tripartite team, aligning with efforts to facilitate Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNAs) and the formulation of an emerging Recovery Framework. The RO’s pivotal role aimed to leverage Earth Observation (EO)-derived products to bolster Haiti’s recovery efforts from both the earthquake and the impacts of Tropical Storm Grace.
In its initial phase, the RO activation focused on augmenting and validating PDNA analysis through EO-derived products, with targeted completion by the end of September 2021. This critical endeavour, labelled as Phase 1, aimed to provide essential insights to inform immediate response and recovery strategies. Subsequently, in Phase 2, the RO’s focus shifted towards providing sustained support to the Recovery Framework, employing EO-derived products to address evolving needs and challenges as Haiti embarked on its journey towards reconstruction and resilience-building.
Landslides detection around Camp Perrin using COSMO-SkyMed SAR data (ASC + DESC).
The RO delivered the first products in a relative rush mode, directly informing the PDNA process with crucial quantitative data. These initial EO-derived products provided a quantified report of the damage incurred, particularly in the agricultural and environmental sectors, offering invaluable insights to aid in the assessment and prioritization of recovery efforts. This clear demonstration underscored the indispensable role of EO data in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of PDNA processes, facilitating informed decision-making and targeted interventions to support disaster-affected communities in their path towards recovery and resilience. The role of RO Liaison Officer was played by EU FPI.
Other RO products for the Haiti earthquake can be found here.