Fwd: [CrisisMappers] OCHA activates Standby Task Force for Libya

[Anahi Ayala Iacucci]

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Anahi Ayala Iacucci

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an...@crisismappers.net

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Patrick Meier (CrisisMappers) <pat...@crisismappers.net>
Date: Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Subject: [CrisisMappers] OCHA activates Standby Task Force for Libya
To: CrisisMappers <crisis...@googlegroups.com>


Dear All,

On Tuesday morning, March 1st, OCHA's Information Services Section in Geneva requested that the Standby Volunteer Task Force (SBTF) be activated to provide live crisis mapping support for Libya. From the official announcement just released this morning:

OCHA, UNOSAT and NetHope have been collaborating with the Volunteer Technical Community (VTC) specifically including the CrisisMappers, Crisis Commons, Open Street Map, and the Google Crisis Response Team over the past week. The CrisisMappers Standby Task Force has been undertaking a mapping of social media and new reports from within Libya and along the borders at the request of OCHA.  As well, the Task Force is aiding in the collection and mapping of 3W information for the response. UNOSAT is kindly hosting the Common Operational Datasets to be used during the emergency (http://www.unitar.org/unosat/libya). Interaction with these groups is being coordinated by OCHA's Information Services Section. Focal Point: Andrej Verity [ver...@un.org].

A live Crisis Map of Libya was launched at 2pm EST on Tuesday and continues to be customized. Over 230 reports have been mapped since the launch and several data layers have been added. At OCHA's request, the map is password protected due to security concerns, so I am including a few screenshots here. We will provide the CrisisMappers community with regular updates on this list serve and I'm sure OCHA will as well. 

In the mean time, many thanks to OCHA for the opportunity to collaborate and many thanks to all volunteers and partners of the Task Force who are providing excellent live crisis mapping support. This is truly a first!

All the best,

Patrick for the Task Force