Access to information is one of the most important things humanitarians need in an emergency. In order for field officers to make decisions and undertake operations, they need to know how many people need assistance, where they are, how to reach them and what infrastructures and assets are available in an area. While many people have access to detailed printed or digital maps, the same is not true in the remote areas where humanitarian operations take place. Here, having access to a large scale map is a luxury, and the information they contain is precious. In the very early stage of emergency response, a highly detailed and up-to-date topographic map can mean the difference between a truck being able to deliver food and life-saving medication or getting stuck in front of a collapsed bridge; it can mean saving on expensive delivery means (such as helicopters) when cheaper alternatives (such as deliveries by roads or river networks) are available and sometimes more efficient.
Mapping for Emergencies: WFP’s custom mapping innovation informs humanitarian operations worldwide
18 December 2020