16 September 2010: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) announced the launch of a Regional Cooperative Mechanism on Drought Monitoring and Early Warning.

The Mechanism is intended to provide satellite products for drought monitoring and also to assist members in developing localized products and services for relevant decision making. According to Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP, the Mechanism will also provide an information portal, the Asia-Pacific Gateway on Disaster Risk Reduction and Development, where member States can draw on technical services and exchange knowledge, and also engage UNESCAP’s other technical support for the social and economic elements of disaster risk reduction. [UNESCAP Press Release]