The Horn of Africa is gripped by its worst famine in more than 60 years. Across Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia over 12.4 million people are threatened with hunger and disease as they are unable to access basic survival means. According to France Lamy, Program Manager Emerging Markets of Google, “The emergency is expected to persist at least three to four months, and the number of people needing humanitarian assistance could increase by as much as 25 percent.”
For accessing this crisis, maps are among the many vital factors to facilitate emergency response and planning. Due to the efforts of GeoEye, there are now high resolution imagery of locations with pressing humanitarian needs. Volunteers are mapping roads, hospitals, schools, community centers, and water resources among other vital landmarks. The data collected is being shared periodically with the UN agencies engaged in the famine crisis. Google has also donated 1 million USD to help provide famine and drought relief support in the Horn of Africa.
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Source: Lat Long Blog
Sachiye Day, VERTICES intern. sachiye@vertices.com
GIS Use in Public Health & Healthcare 