Regional Symposium and Training on Space Technologies for Humanity in Nairobi 

From 16–20 February 2026, the Regional Symposium on Space Technologies for Humanity (16–17 February) was held in Nairobi, followed by a Regional Training on the International Charter.

Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Madagascar’s eastern coast on 10 February 2026, striking the port city of Toamasina with maximum sustained winds of 211 km/h. 
The system, which formed in the Southwest Indian Ocean on 6 February, passed north of Mauritius and Reunion before intensifying into a Category 4 equivalent cyclone prior to impact. 
This follows the devastating passage of Cyclone Fytia, which affected the island just ten days earlier, claiming 14 lives and impacting over 85,000 people.

Tropical Cyclone Fytia made landfall on Madagascar's western coast on 31 January 2026, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges to some of the country's most remote regions. 
Preliminary assessments indicate significant humanitarian impacts across central and northern areas, with tens of thousands of people potentially affected.

Heavy rains since mid-December have caused widespread flooding across Mozambique, particularly in the provinces of Gaza, Maputo, and Sofala. Several major river basins have risen above alert levels, leading to extensive inundation, displacement, and damage to communities as floodwaters persist and rainfall continues.

Tropical forests, often described as the planet’s “green lungs,” absorb vast quantities of carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. While widespread deforestation has long been recognised as a major threat, new research identifies a less obvious but highly significant driver of carbon emissions: small-scale forest clearing. Surprisingly, the removal of relatively small forest patches is responsible for more than half of net carbon losses across the tropical regions.

Overview of the Disaster and Objectives

From late November to early December 2025, Sri Lanka experienced its most severe flooding in decades following the passage of Cyclone Ditwah. The system brought prolonged and intense rainfall, triggering deadly landslides in the central hill country and widespread inundation across 25 districts. According to the Joint Rapid Needs Assessment (JRNA) released on 02 December, the disaster has resulted in catastrophic impacts with 410 confirmed fatalities and hundreds reported missing.