A Taiwanese non-governmental organization (NGO) focusing on national security yesterday said it would collaborate with Microsoft Taiwan to develop a disaster response and reporting management system to help disaster relief units from the government and private sector to integrate disaster response, reporting and volunteer recruitment plans.
The Forward Alliance said in a statement that it developed the iCanHelp app to link to the system and enhance public participation in disaster preparedness.
Drawing on data and open resources provided by organizations such as the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, the platform would enable the public to access practical manuals, report disaster situations, view response maps and register as volunteers through the app, the NGO said.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft Taiwan via CNA
From 2021 to 2023, Taiwan experienced approximately 50,000 natural and artificial disasters resulting in economic losses of more than NT$72.5 billion (US$2.45 billion), the Forward Alliance said, citing statistics from the Executive Yuan's annual white paper on disaster prevention and response.
These disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes, floods and fires, have a profound effect on people's lives, infrastructure and economic activities, it said.
Given that Taiwan is prone to natural disasters due to its geographical location, the NGO hopes to integrate resources from several sectors by establishing an efficient emergency response, coordination and reporting system to enhance overall societal efficiency and reduce losses, Forward Alliance founder Enoch Wu (吳怡農), who is also a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, said in the statement.
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