COVID-19: Mapping Needs & Manufacturing Capabilities
THE CHALLENGE
In conflict-affected and remote areas, the lack of detailed information on populations, infrastructure, and resources had hindered effective humanitarian operations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this gap disrupted supply chains, delaying the delivery of life-saving aid, healthcare supplies, and medicines to those in need.
THE SOLUTION
Field Ready, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), and NeedsList partnered to create highly detailed maps of crisis zones, enabling informed decision-making and streamlined aid delivery. By leveraging open-source mapping tools and geospatial data, the initiative identified needs and connected local manufacturers to supply infection-control items. This project successfully equipped 100,000 frontline workers in Bangladesh, Iraq, Kenya, and Uganda with critical PPE and healthcare resources, ensuring tailored, efficient responses in areas most impacted by war and pandemic disruptions.
