At the edge of a vast steppe in the foothills of the mountains, we are witnessing Kazakhstan’s first flight of a drone for search and rescue.

UNICEF experts have joined rescue teams, business people and young innovators for one common cause: harnessing new technology to benefit society.

Drones offer real hope: cutting down the time it takes to find someone when every minute counts, cutting the costs and even cutting the carbon footprint of search and rescue operations.
As well as search and rescue operations, the ability of drones to carry out three other key tasks will be tested in the coming months:
• The location and mapping of areas that are flood-prone in the northern corridor, and prone to mudslides and avalanches in the southern corridor, including damage assessment.
• The establishment of ad-hoc temporary connectivity networks (Wi-Fi or cellphone access) above emergency areas, particularly where the terrain makes it difficult to connect.
• Location and mapping of forest wildfires in remote areas, with a strong focus on international and regional coordination.

Source: Tatiana Ten - UNICEF