Deployment Catalogue
Pakistan IDP Emergency, June 2009
Clashes between Pakistan forces and the Taliban in the north-west of the country have caused more than 2 million people to flee the fighting. This has created a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of basics including shelter, clean water and food. MapAction was requested by United Nations agencies to support international relief coordination. MapAction volunteers began to deploy to Pakistan on 2 June.
Sri Lanka Post-Conflict Recovery, June 2009
In the aftermath of the conflict in northern Sri Lanka, the landmine action NGO MAG has asked for MapAction's help in the country. MapAction deployed a small team on 8 June to assist in setting up mapping systems to enable analysis of landmine and unexploded ordnance risks. The aim is to enable people displaced by the conflict in the north of the country to return home safely.
Lesotho Food Insecurity, October 2003
MapAction surveyed and mapped emergency food distribution logistics infrastructure in south-west Lesotho including delivery points and routes. This was carried out ahead of the crop failures that resulted in chronic food insecurity which still persists in the country.
Namibia Flooding, March 2009
In March 2009 flooding affected a substantial part of the northern Namibia and the Caprivi Strip. The Zambesi river reached 7 metres above normal level, its highest since 1962. More than 400,000 people were affected. A MapAction team deployed to assist the joint UNDAC and EU-MIC humanitarian assessment operation.
Haiti Tropical Storms, September 2008
Hurricane Ike and other tropical storms brought devastating flooding affecting more than 800,000 people in Haiti and devastating the northern city of Gonaïves. To support humanitarian relief coordination, MapAction despatched an emergency mapping team.
China Earthquake, May 2008
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan province in China on 12 May 2008.
Tropical Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, May 2008
Throughout May, the MapAction team worked in support of the UN OCHA regional office and Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) in Bangkok. It operated as an integral component of a rapidly-assembled 'community' of emergency information management and coordination experts deployed by UN and other agencies.
Bolivia Flooding, January 2008
A team was mobilised in two stages to Bolivia at the request of UN OCHA, to respond to severe flooding affecting about 24,000 people across much of the country. The team was deployed forward, from La Paz, with the UNDAC team to the east (Santa Cruz) and north of the country; in Trinidad city they surveyed and charted the rising water levels which had already made thousands homeless and threatened many more. Situation maps, updated several times daily, steered evacuation planning and identified campsite locations for displaced people.
Mexico Flooding, November 2007
At the request of UN OCHA, MapAction deployed an emergency mapping team to Mexico City and to Tabasco province whch had been severely affected by exceptional seasonal rainfall. Most of the city of Villahermosa was under water, and tens of thousands of people were at risk from disease. A lack of access to government-controlled situation data constrained the mapping output from this mission.
Hurricane Noel, Dominican Republic, November 2007
MapAction sent a team to Dominican Republic in response to a request from UN OCHA to support an UNDAC mission. This followed severe flooding caused by the transit of Hurricane Noel, which left dozens of villages cut off and severely affected rural livelihoods. The MapAction mission was extended at UN request.
Ghana Flooding, September 2007
An UNDAC team was sent to Ghana in response to severe flooding that affected much of the north of the country. A MapAction team deployed to support them. The team was based in Tamale, from which assessment missions were mounted by road and air over a wide area. Situation maps were produced and distributed to relief agencies operating in country as well as to donor organisations.
Hurricane Dean, Jamaica, August 2007
MapAction deployed in support of the UNDAC team to Jamaica, arriving the morning following the impact of Hurricane Dean, a category 4 storm. En route, the team produced vulnerability maps predicting the areas likely to be affected by storm surge. Once in Jamaica they took part in a number of rapid assessment operations in severely damaged settlements along the south coast of the island. They also worked with the UNDAC team to analyse assessment data and produced situation maps for national and international responding agencies.
United Kingdom Flooding, July 2007
Severe flooding affected large areas of western and southern England during July 2007. MapAction assisted with overview mapping for responding agencies.
Pakistan Flooding, July 2007
Severe flooding affected more than 1 million people in south-western Pakistan during July 2007. A MapAction team member deployed in support of UN Joint Logistics Centre (see www.unjlc.org for map products).
Kenya Flooding, December 2006
Extensive flooding affected the Tana River basin, threatening the lives and fragile livelihoods of tens of thousands in north east Kenya. MapAction deployed a team at the request of UN OCHA. In addition to producing situation mapping, the team also assisted in other relief coordination functions. At the same time, MapAction assisted the Government of Kenya's disaster response agency to improve its IT infrastructure and advised on enhanced information management processes.
Suriname Flooding, May 2006
MapAction deployed a team to Suriname in response to severe flooding affecting communities along thousands of kilometers of rivers in the interior. The team was based in the Government of Suriname's disaster operations centre, and worked closely with the UNDAC team that was deployed. Air survey methods were used during the mission to assess flood levels.
Indonesia Earthquake, June 2006
At UN request, MapAction deployed a team to the scene of the Yogjakarta earthquake. While the team was producing situation maps for the earthquake relief operations, the nearby volcano Mount Merapi threatened to erupt; demanding a switch of effort to mapping the evacuation plan which was successfully executed.
East Africa Seismic Risk, March 2006
Map produced for UNOCHA showing history of seismic activity in East Africa Rift Valley.
Pakistan Earthquake, October 2005
MapAction's team began setting up operations in Pakistan within hours of the devastating earthquake than killed more than 74,000 people. The team created a mapping unit at the UN's Emergency Response Centre (ERC) and also supported the disaster coordination teams in Muzaffarabad and other affected areas. A large range of reference and situation maps was produced and used by more than 1 national and international agencies. MapAction handed over its operations to a Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) established by the the United Nations.
Niger Food Insecurity, August 2005
Two MapAction volunteers were deployed to estblish a GIS/ mapping cell in support of the Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) during the severe droughts that affected the country in 2005.
Sri Lanka Asian Tsunami, December 2004
MapAction's first emergency deployment was to Sri Lanka in December 2004, in response to the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami.