The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters has logged more than 1,168 activations since its establishment, supporting 146 countries through a network of more than 270 satellites supplied by its 17 member organisations. Those members provide satellite imagery and geospatial data free of charge to authorised agencies worldwide, a mandate that has fundamentally reshaped how governments and humanitarian bodies assess and respond to natural disasters.
The UAE Space Agency held the Charter’s presidency from April to October 2026, a period that tested the framework across multiple continents. During that tenure, the Agency coordinated Charter activities with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and Space42, combining space technology, emergency-management expertise and geospatial analysis to support international disaster-response operations.
The practical weight of that coordination became clear on August 10, 2026, when a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Egypt and a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Colombia on the same day. Both events underscored what space technology has increasingly demonstrated: satellite imagery, geospatial information, data analytics and artificial intelligence allow governments and humanitarian agencies to obtain timely intelligence, assess disaster impacts and make faster, better-informed decisions.
Several activations during the UAE’s presidency illustrated the Charter’s operational reach. In Kazakhstan, the system deployed in early July 2026 after heavy rainfall caused flooding and riverbank erosion in the Almaty Region. Working with the MBRSC, satellite imagery was supplied to assess affected areas and monitor flooding in near-real time, giving authorities the information they needed to manage the emergency and protect communities and infrastructure. Kazakhstan had already benefited from a Charter activation on June 9 following wildfires in the Akmola Region, where Space42 rapidly delivered satellite imagery and geospatial data that allowed authorities to track fire progression and sharpen their emergency response.
In South America, the Charter supported Venezuela after two earthquakes struck the country’s north-central region on June 24. Space42, in cooperation with the UAE Space Agency, supplied high-resolution satellite imagery of the affected areas. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and TACTICA, also working with the UAE Space Agency, conducted an initial damage assessment, demonstrating how satellite data and artificial intelligence can work together to deliver timely information for emergency decision-making.
Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan received Charter support following flash floods and mudflows that affected several areas on May 25. In cooperation with the MBRSC, satellite imagery and geospatial data were used to identify impacted locations and assess damage, giving emergency teams reliable intelligence that accelerated crisis management. The Philippines benefited from Charter activation after the eruption of Mayon Volcano, where imagery supplied in cooperation with the MBRSC helped authorities monitor volcanic activity, assess affected areas and evaluate the risks of ashfall to nearby communities.
New Zealand received support following severe flooding in April 2026, with the Charter working alongside the MBRSC to map affected areas, monitor flooding and landslides, and provide authorities with the information needed to manage the crisis. In Papua New Guinea, the Charter activated its mechanisms following Cyclone Mayla, with member organisations using satellite imagery to identify areas vulnerable to flooding and support emergency operations.
The scope of these activations points to a broader shift in how space assets are governed and deployed for humanitarian ends. Satellite imagery has evolved from a tool for observing natural phenomena into a strategic resource for assessing damage, analysing risks and delivering timely intelligence to emergency teams and decision-makers. The question now facing the Charter and its member organisations is whether the institutional frameworks governing access to that resource can scale as quickly as the disasters demanding it.