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The GEM Foundation released the Africa Earthquake Hazard and Risk model on 15th May 2019 in recognition of UNDRR's* Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019 in Geneva. The technical data and information for this model can now be downloaded from the Africa Model webpage. The Africa Earthquake model underpins the African portion of GEM’s global maps released in December 2018.

“The Africa Earthquake Model is an important scientific contribution to ongoing efforts to reduce earthquake risk in Africa and globally.”- Djillali Benouar, Chair of Africa Science & Technology Advisory Group on DRR for the African Union.

The Africa Earthquake Model paints a complete picture of earthquake risk to the continent in terms of potential damage to buildings and direct economic loss.

The results can be used by risk managers, urban planners, emergency responders and humanitarian agencies for input to a wide range of disaster risk reduction activities including monitoring of the Sendai Framework indicators.

“Presently the model directly supports Sendai Framework Target C by providing estimates of direct economic losses at the national and subnational levels. Through further collaborative efforts, we plan to continue to improve the model to address Targets A, B and D by providing estimates of deaths, missing and affected persons, and impact to critical infrastructure,” said John Schneider, GEM Secretary General.

Read the complete text of the press release here.

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* The former UNISDR has been formally renamed UNDRR.