Disaster Technology for Myanmar/Burma aid workers

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May 8
2008

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Disaster Technology for Myanmar/Burma aid workers

There is an ongoing crisis in Myanmar (Burma) in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. The ruling military junta is finally allowing humanitarian organizations into the region after denying access for almost a week. The situation is grim, and you can help by donating to organizations like: Doctors without Borders, Direct Relief, and UNICEF.

There has been some incredible discussion on the humanitarian tech and Geo lists in the past 24 hours around adapting/improving existing collaboration services to work with the tools in the field. Mikel Maron and I will be speaking about this at Where2.0 next week, and it looks like some exciting work will be happening there and at WhereCamp.

Eduardo Jezierski from InSTEDD is currently working to localize the Sahana Disaster Management System

Jonathan Thompson's organization, Humanlink, has been working on adapting technology for aid workers for some time. You can follow recent developments on the Aid Worker Daily blog.

Update: Paul Currion posted a big list of other projects now underway to the humanitarian.info blog:

A Sahana instance is being set up for the use of anybody who needs it, with the support of INSTEDD and possible uptake by NetHope members.

Direct Relief International have done up a KMZ file of health facilities in-country, based on the WHO 2002 Global Health Atlas.

OCHA are prepping a HIC to support the existing Myanmar Information Management Unit, who have already put out some W3 maps.

UNOSAT have also got their sat on with a KMZ file of the cyclone path and the usual satellite mapping.

Ditto ITHACA, who have released a series of satellite maps showing the impact of Nargis.

ReliefWeb’s info stream on Cyclone Nargis is of course like drinking water from a hose, with their map filter probably most useful.

The WorldWideHelp blog roars into action with all the news that’s fit to blog.

A couple of the mailing list discussions that I’m on are talking about ways in which we might leverage cellphone and/or satellite phone communications if they become available, particularly for tracking relief and relief personnel.

Digital Globe and Geo-Eye have hopped the NASA satellite for an updating KML layer on the cyclone.

Microsoft apparently have a team on standby to deploy the refugee tracking software that was developed for Kosovo (no reference yet).

Telecoms sans Frontieres are also on standby out of Bangkok, waiting for access to free up.

Also Infoworld points out that - with regards to early warning - IT didn’t fail Myanmar, people did.

aid, burma, disaster, disastertech, hlink, humanlink, instedd, myanmar, tech, webops, where2.0, wherecamp

tags: disastertech, diy, emerging tech, emerging telephony, etech, geo, hacks, make, open source, operations, web 2.0 | comments: 8 | Sphere It
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Comments: 8

Paul C [05.10.08 03:26 AM]

Jesse - hope it goes well at Where2.0 next week. I've blogged a list of the various tech-related initiatives that are up in support of the Nargis response at humanitarian.info, which I'll update as and when.

Jesse Robbins [05.10.08 12:22 PM]

Paul, that is a great list! I've updated this post to quote it, including backlinks to you.

ange Embuldeniya [05.11.08 08:20 AM]

Just a heads up that the Microsoft Disaster Assistance and Response team landed on May 9th and is now in-country with two staff members for a minimum duration of 10 days to provide ICT support for NGOs, with Gisli Olafsson (gislio AT microsoft.com) on the ground and Claire Bonilla monitoring the situation at HQ level.

However, there exists the need for net connectivity and sat phone access for NGOs to effectively coordinate the relief operation. Up until now, it is just UN agencies who have net access, WFP is working on moving in relief comms equipment, while the majority of local NGOs and INGOs are disconnected from the rest of the world to feedback assessments and produce real-time sit reps.

nitin [05.12.08 12:29 AM]

dear sir,

i have rehabilitation prefab house plan to construct house within 7 days of size
250sft on turn key basis @ USD 10000

if intersted then call me on my e mail id

saakaarcorp@yahoo.com
saakaarcorp@hotmail.com

my cell no 9867751133 bombay india

regards

NITIN

ange Embuldeniya [05.12.08 05:27 AM]

When the majority of folks open their hearts to donate aid to those in need on the ground, why is it that some corps and individuals choose to cash in on disaster relief? ... Sad.

Nitin, if you're interested in providing the aid you mention on a pro-bono basis, please get in touch with Theo at the WFP Logistics Unit on +98601279