Myanmar cyclone disaster
Tropical cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar on 2 May reportedly caused over 100,000 deaths and made 2.4 million homeless. MapAction emergency mappers were deployed to Bangkok and Myanmar. (Picture: Reuters Alertnet) Click here for Myanmar maps.
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.
A MapAction team member also deployed to Yangon (Rangoon) in Myanmar itself, to provide a situation mapping faciility for Save the Children which is one of the largest NGOs operating in the country.
The MapAction team in Bangkok, assisted by support base volunteers in the UK and other parts of the world, worked on obtaining and preparing GIS data to assist in compiling the best possible base maps of the affected Irrawaddy delta. More than 35 map products were issued, depicting the locations of the affected population, and 'who-what-where' information about relief activities across several sectoral areas including water and sanitation, and emergency food relief. The Bangkok group has now completed its mission while the team member in Yangon will continue until mid June.
This has been an unusual mission in which MapAction was unable to operate in its usual role, which normally involves placing an emergency mapping unit within the disaster zone. Also, information flows were restricted by the problems of access to the affected areas by humanitarian personnel. Nevertheless, MapAction's maps are known to have been of significant help to aid workers on the ground. A field manager of one large international NGO operating within Myanmar said: "We have MapAction's maps all over our ops room walls here in Yangon. Many thanks to all involved, and keep them coming."