Pick of the year: What technology means for humanitarian disasters

As 2011 draws to a close, the year has been momentous in terms of the humanitarian disasters and conflicts that have taken place. The Horn of Africa underwent its worst drought for 60 years; Thailand and Pakistan were two of the many places that faced severe flooding; Japan experienced an almighty nuclear disaster; and the independence of South Sudan did not bring enhanced security for many living in Sudan’s southern states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

However, the year has also been a dramatic reminder of the role that technology can play in not only publicising these crises to the international community but also empowering those that are living through them. For its Pick of the Year, Channel 16 brings together some of the most incredible and innovative examples of technology having these effects.

1. ‘Infographics‘

Infographics have been become an essential (as well as interesting and colourful) tool for allowing viewers and readers to conceptualise the overwhelming volume of statistics that come out of disasters. This one, for example, is excellent in enabling one to comprehend the scale of the Horn of Africa food crisis this year.

2. ‘GeoPolls‘

Mobile Accord has compiled 12,750 texts that they collected from the DRC during 2010 and made them into word-charts that reflect what the priorities are of Congolese civilians. Check these out here.

3. Photojournalism

Pete Muller, voted by TIME as the best journalist working in the news in 2011,  reflects how powerful the medium of photography is in bringing stories to life. His work from Sudan sheds light on what was previously a largely forgotten conflict.

Seamus Murphy, another award-winning photojournalist, has made a set of films in Afghanistan that charts events in the country since 1994 and how they have affected civilians.

More generally, Demotix serves as an another excellent photo news source.

4. Crowdsourcing

Crowd-sourcing is an important way in which on-the-ground reports can be projected onto a map to show where the greatest areas of danger are, and to ensure that assistance can reach civilians as quickly as possible.

This one brings together the latest reports from Sudan’s southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Patrick Meier has written a fascinating piece here about how such techniques are being used to keep the focus on Somalia. To understand more about what ‘bounded crowdsourcing’ means for humanitarian response, read his other article here.