Humanitarian emergencies often strike without warning, destroying lives and livelihoods within a matter of seconds. In the immediate aftermath, the challenge for those responding is to know where to start. Information is vital.

Which area has been worst affected? Where are the most vulnerable people? What has happened to roads, railways and communication networks? Where are medical supplies and where are they needed most? 

MapAction works across the globe to ensure disaster response teams have
access to the maps and data they need whenever they’re needed to answer these and other critical questions. As well as helping to prepare for emergencies before they happen, our team of expert volunteers is ready to respond to disasters in-country or remotely, anywhere in the world and at very short notice, to provide life-saving maps and data to help deliver the right aid to the right places, quickly.

Since 2003, MapAction has been applying expertise in geographical information and data to make humanitarian disaster response as effective as possible, saving many thousands of lives in the process. 

Our well-rehearsed deployment model means our volunteer mapping professionals are often at the scene within 24-48 hours of a disaster striking. Even before they arrive in-country, they’ve started collecting data and information that will be crucial in helping coordinate the world’s response, and getting aid to where it is needed most.

Rigorous training underpins the reliability and professionalism of our service.

Every year our volunteers take part in an intensive simulation exercise, focusing on developing the skills they need to deliver our mapping service in the potentially challenging context of an emergency response.

Our training helps team members make judgement calls about what sort of products they should create given the time available and the volume of rapid requests coming in.

Since MapAction’s beginnings in 2003, our in-country emergency mapping service has helped coordinate the response to over 100 different humanitarian crises including earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and conflict-related crises.

MapAction is recognised as a leading provider of professional mapping services in first phase emergency response. We regularly deploy with the United Nation’s rapid response Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team – the global tool used by the international community to assist national governments when they request international assistance following a major emergency.

MapAction holds partnerships with Unicef and the World Food Programme, and we have worked in specific emergencies with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and international NGO consortia.