UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Government

Name of Ministry/Agency:	Federal Planning Bureau

Country:	Belgium

Name of Focal Point:	Christian Vanden Bilcke, Nadine Gouzée

Initiative Title:	A multi-approach tool for the volcanic risk management of the Goma region (North Kivu) (GORISK)- “STEREO” programme

Internet links:

Scope:

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Lead Institution:	PPS Science Policy

Stakeholders/Partners:

Relevent issues:	- Natural disaster prevention and preparedness

Objectives/Challenges:

The GORISK project is oriented towards the improvement and implementation of techniques dedicated to the study and monitoring of the Nyiragongo.

Lessons Learned:

An important GORISK segment concerns the ground deformations monitoring that are amongst the most important parameters to monitor; it is addressed by both space borne and ground based observations. Volcanic plume fallouts are also a big concern as it causes damage to vegetation and cultivations.

Summary:

The region of Goma lies under the direct threat of volcanic hazards with the Nyiragongo and Niamulagira volcanoes that are amongst the most active in Africa. The recent eruption that occurred in January 2002 produced spectacular lava flows that destroyed part of the city. Although the amount of casualties was limited, hundred thousands of refugees were pushed out of the area which added some more pressure in a highly politically sensitive area at the border with neighbouring Rwanda. The mitigation of the direct volcanic risks is depending on the availability of an efficient volcanic activity monitoring system.