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<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">Dear colleagues,</font><br>
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<font size="3" color="#323232" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">The UN-SPIDER Beijing Office is pleased to announce the United Nations International Conference on Space-based Technologies for Disaster Management - "Disaster risk identification and response" from 23 to 25 October 2013 in Beijing, China. </font><br>
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<font size="3" color="#323232" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">Please submit your application for participation online until 10 August 2013: </font><a href="http://www.un-spider.org/beijingdisasterrisk"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"><u>http://www.un-spider.org/beijingdisasterrisk</u></font></a><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"> </font><br>
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<font size="3" color="#323232" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">Despite technological advances in earth observation and the existence of ground-based systems for disaster prediction and monitoring, several countries face challenges to assess and reduce disaster risks. These challenges can be addressed by setting up a mechanism for identifying, assessing, monitoring and responding to disaster risks. With advances in the earth observation technology and increasing access to the space based information, several opportunities are available for disaster managers to use space technology effectively for disaster and disaster risk management. The conference is an opportunity to share information on latest methods, approaches and models used for identifying, assessing and reducing disaster risks. The conference will also focus on how to operationalize technological developments to address challenges at the national level by the national disaster management authorities. The sole purpose of this conference is to bring together the technologists and end users on a single platform to ensure that space-based information is effectively employed in decision-making that saves life and prevents economic losses. In the context of the Conference the International Training Programme “Flood Risk Mapping, Modelling and Assessment using Space technology” will be organised for 25 participants of the conference.</font><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"> </font><br>
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<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">The organisers will be able to provide financial support to a limited number of participants. </font><font size="1" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"> </font><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">Only participants/experts representing a country and/or an organisation engaged in developing a long-term partnership with UN-SPIDER will be considered for the funding support. Those who request funding support must express their government's or organisation's intention to develop a work programme with UN-SPIDER in the coming years. The support will defray the cost of travel (round-trip ticket – most economic fare – between the airport of international departure in their country of residence and Beijing) and/or room and board expenses during the duration of the event. </font><br>
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<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">If you have further questions about the conference, contact Mr. Shirish Ravan, </font><a href="mailto:shirish.ravan@unoosa.org"><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">shirish.ravan@unoosa.org</font></a><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"> Telephone: (+86) (10) 6353 3527 </font><br>
<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">For specific questions related to the registration process contact Ms. Liu Jing, </font><a href="mailto:liu.jing@unoosa.org"><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">liu.jing@unoosa.org</font></a><font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman"> Telephone: (+86) (10) 6353 3527</font><font size="3" face="serif"> </font><br>
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<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">We are looking forward to welcoming you soon in Beijing!</font><br>
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<font size="3" face="Helvetica 55 Roman">The UN-SPIDER team</font></body></html>