Web tool maps Congo conflict

Digital Planet Alka Marwaha BBC World Service

Violence in DR Congo has caused misery in the country for 15 years

A web-based reporting tool is allowing Africans caught up in political unrest to report incidents of killing, violence and displacement.

The website is called Ushahidi, which means ”testimony” in Swahili and was first developed to map reports of violence in Kenya after the post-election fallout.

Ushahidi is now being used in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to report on the war that has torn the country apart for the last 15 years.

Its goal is to create a simple way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response.

The site is a free open-source mash-up which can be run by anybody, anywhere in the world to to gather distributed data via SMS, email or web and visualise it on a map or timeline.

Democratic Republic of Congo

“This is a tool specifically made for the ordinary person,” said Erik Hersman, the creator of Ushahidi.

See detailed map of conflict areas

“Anybody who uses this free open-source tool can download it and run it off your own servers.

“It allows you to use Google Maps, Microsoft Maps, Yahoo Maps or Open Street Map.

“In the DRC, we are using some NGOs [non-governmental organisations] to help with that data gathering and the main focus for us is to get ordinary people’s stories up,” he added.

Users can report an incident by filling in a very simple form with a description of what happened, when it took place and put it in a category.

Ushahidi is used to identify areas where aid is required

The incident data is colour coded on the website into categories for things such as riots, looting, illness and sexual assault.

When you click on one of the categories it will identify on a map of DR Congo where these incidents are happening.

Audio, video and images can also be uploaded but identifying yourself is optional as fears for people’s safety is top priority.

Hot spots

Currently there is a cluster of these spots around DR Congo’s eastern border.

“Goma in the DRC has been an area that has had a lot of action over the last couple of weeks,” said Mr Hersman.

“You’ll see that most of the data and stories we have are coming from that area.

“We are already starting to see news being spread out, so you’ll see a few dots further away now.

The violence has gone into a dark hole of information Lyn Lusi

“When you click on the coloured dots, you get news reports in French and in English, which are compiled by non-governmental organisations and aid groups.

“Right now a lot of them are from different NGOs, people out in the field in the eastern Congo.”

With web access being limited in much of rural Africa, people can also post incidents to the website using text messages sent from their mobile phones.

Lyn Lusi is the founder and programme manager of an NGO called HEAL Africa and has been involved in putting the Ushahidi project into action on the ground.

“It started off with quite a lot of information because the violence was all around Goma,” she said.

“The fighting has moved up north to a very rural area where cell phone network coverage is very sporadic and where people are extremely poor.

“The violence has gone into a dark hole of information, we are just coming into the technological age in Congo,” she added.

Verifying information

Although technology can limit information getting out in some areas, she feels that everything must be done to raise awareness of the conflict in DR Congo.

“If we can regularly bring in information from the conflict zones, information about human rights abuses and community action to rebuild peace, then we will keep this problem on the front burner,” she said.

“We have set up a network with two telephones that will always be in the hands of people who can pick up SMS messages sent by people from their mobile phones

“They will have access to the internet – even if it is sporadic, as we want to be able to get this information to the Ushahidi website,” she added.

The information must get out if we are ever going to reach a solution Lyn Lusi

Reports that are posted on the website are verified by local NGOs and are also given a credibility rating.

“It is also very important that this information should be verified because this is also an information war,” said Ms Lusi.

“On the night of the shooting in Goma, SMS messages went around saying that the UN has given orders to the national army to put down their arms and that the town is now effectively in the hands of the [rebel] CNDP,” she said.

That turned out to be false information and caused a number of demoralised troops to run away.

People posting information on the website and passing it on via text messages are putting themselves at risk, although they do not have to identify themselves when doing so.

“We have to be very careful to conceal identity, it is a big risk,” said Ms Lusi.

“But if you can’t get the information out, then you cannot call for help either.

“People want the international community to be aware of what’s going on have it on the political agenda.

“The information must get out if we are ever going to reach a solution,” she added.

ESRI Federal User Conference Coming in Feb – Washington DC

GIS: The Geographic Approach for the Nation

2009 ESRI Federal User Conference Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. February 18-20, 2009 We encourage you to take an active role in the 2009 ESRI Federal User Conference (FedUC). Government leaders, decision makers, and GIS professionals nationwide are invited to participate in this premier forum. Share your GIS work and help foster relevant discussions with others in the federal community. Join us and be part of the valuable collaboration that serves as a cornerstone of this conference. Request a Meeting Host a special meeting during the FedUC. For example, it could be for a user group, for a specific type of organization, or on a unique topic. The deadline to request a meeting is January 9, 2009. Submit Your Map Communicate your GIS story visually and submit a map poster or map product for display in the Map Gallery. The deadline for submissions is January 16, 2009. Share Your Images Have your GIS work showcased during the Plenary Session. GIS screen shots, videos, and images from users will be included and highlighted in ESRI president Jack Dangermond’s presentation. The deadline for submissions is January 16, 2009. Questions? Contact Andrea Dennistoun or call 909-793-2853, extension 1-2421. Learn more about getting involved at www.esri.com/feduc. Register and reserve your room today! Quick Links · 2009 FedUC · Request a Meeting · Maps · Images · Register · Accommodations · ESRI Get the News · Subscribe to ESRI Publications · Change Your Address · Manage Your Subscriptions

Unsubscribe from ESRI event, product, and training notifications. ESRI.com | PRIVACY | Contact Us Copyright © 2008 ESRI. All rights reserved. ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373, USA.

Mapping the Rats in New York City

By Christine Gorman / New York Monday, Dec. 15, 2008

Corbis

Michael Mills, a veteran health inspector in New York City, helps create a map of the city you won’t find in any guidebook: a rat map. That’s right, a map of the New York neighborhoods that rodent populations call home.

The city’s rat map was first introduced a year ago, with an intensive pilot program in the Bronx. Mills and other inspectors scoured the streets, building by building, cataloging rat hot spots — places that show so-called active rat signs, such as lived-in burrows, fresh droppings, telltale gnaw marks on plastic garbage bags — in an effort to target rodent-control measures more effectively. That geocoding information was entered into each inspector’s handheld indexing computer and aggregated with similar data from all across the borough. (See the top 10 animal stories of 2008.)

Today, rodent complaints by residents from all over New York are electronically pinpointed on the city’s computerized rat map, which allows inspectors to track complaints and hot spots over time and determine how well rat-control efforts are working. The results, after just one year, should be music to the ears of most New Yorkers: when the pilot study began in the Bronx, inspectors found active rat signs on 3,100 of the borough’s 39,000 properties. Preliminary results now show that 1,250 of those properties are rat-free. That’s a 40% drop-off in infestations.

Without that initiative, the rat numbers would be expected to stay the same or even go up, says Dan Kass, an assistant commissioner in the city’s department of health and mental hygiene.

The only species of rat (of the four-legged variety, anyway) that lives in New York City is the Rattus norvegicus, also known as the Norway rat or the brown rat. Nobody knows exactly how many live here, but everyone agrees that the population has exploded in recent years — thanks to warmer winters, ever more wasteful food habits and, in part, the city’s crippling fiscal problems in the 1970s.

The problem had gotten so bad in parts of the city — who can forget last year’s overtaking of a KFC/Taco Bell in Greenwich Village by a pack of rats? — that a change in tactics was clearly necessary.

For years, the city government has dealt with rodent complaints on an individual basis. Citizens called up the health department, which sent out inspectors and, if need be, exterminators, who got rid of the immediate problem. But that left rats in nearby nests untouched, allowing them to repopulate the area. (See pictures of animals in love.)

What was needed was a more coordinated effort — one that targeted all the nests on a block or in a neighborhood. Just as important, the strategy had to involve all the relevant government agencies. Rats found on the edge of Central Park, for example, might be living in a nearby subway station and dining on garbage left on the sidewalk by a grocery store or restaurant. Getting rid of that rat population would require collaboration between the three city agencies that govern the subway, the park and the sidewalks — an endeavor that has gotten easier since the mayor’s office set up the Rodent Task Force, which meets weekly to coordinate work.

The effort doesn’t end there. After the cleanup, local residents and businesses are responsible for plugging up the vacant rat holes and keeping their garbage covered. To do all that, however, they have to know exactly where the rats are to begin with.

Enter the rat map. On a recent patrol, Mills and his colleague Bobby Corrigan, a doctor of rodentology who also works for the New York City health department, were back in the Bronx, on West 184th Street. The target was an abandoned house sprayed over with graffiti — a vestige of the way much of New York used to look 20 years ago.

The holes in the front yard were obvious rat burrows, and there were lots of them. Mills pointed out freshly dug dirt from one of them — evidence that the hole had probably been active the night before. Further confirmation: tiny droppings in the corner where the chain-link fence meets the front wall of the house. “I’ve been trying to get into that house for the past three to four months,” Mills says of the boarded-up building.

He wants to set poisoned baits inside — winter is the best time to exterminate, since rat populations are already reduced by the cold and relative lack of food. “But don’t worry. We’ll find a way to get in there,” he says.

Some homeowners have put out poisoned blue pellets on their own — a real no-no, says Mills, since dogs, cats and small children often mistakenly eat the poison. It’s much safer to get bait boxes, which are anchored in place and contain poison, which only rats can get to. Even so, it makes no sense to put out poison if you don’t also tidy up your garbage, since rats will ignore baited food in favor of tastier leftovers.

Mills enters data in his tablet computer and moves on to the vacant lot next door. Rats like to scurry under things when they’re out in the open. Sure enough, we find rat burrows under several scattered pieces of concrete. He points out a distinct musty odor — more evidence of rats. It all goes into the computer, which contains a detailed map, including the outlines of buildings.

So it goes, building by building, lot by lot. Every garbage can without a lid, every window screen that had been nudged aside just enough to let a rat slip by, grease marks from rat hair along a concrete wall — it all gets noted and pinpointed on the map. “We train our inspectors to see what everyone overlooks,” says Corrigan, echoing Sherlock Holmes. “This is a living laboratory. There’s probably 100 variations in rat colonies in New York as to how they behave.”

Under the old pen-and-paper system, inspectors could check out about 20 properties a day, according to Mills. The computerized geocoded map allows them to catalog 10 times as many.

Last November, a version of New York City’s rat map was made public (first-time visitors may not be able to access the map immediately; send an e-mail to ratportal@health.nyc.gov to learn the workaround). You can search by zip code or exact address for information about the number of inspections or notices of violation at a given property. The interface of the public map is a bit clunky and hard to navigate, which may be why the city is sponsoring training sessions for community groups and other interested organizations. “We do hope to make this a bit more friendly in the future,” Kass says.

New Yorkers have really taken to the rat map, says Corrigan. “Once they realize you are not blaming them for the problems, they have really gotten into it,” he says. It’s amazing the things that New Yorkers can bond over.

Christine Gorman blogs about rats and other public health matters on Global Health Report.

ReliefWeb Maps update

Please find below a list of updated information from the ReliefWeb Site. If you do not have Web access and wish to receive the full documents via Email, simply copy the reference to a desired document (including the link), reply to this message and paste the reference into the body of the new Email. Please limit each request to a single document.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: AFRICA

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Congo DRC: Cholera outbreak (as of 9 Dec 2008) – Situation Map Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 679 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7MDHXJ?OpenDocument

Title – République Démocratique du Congo: Province du Nord Kivu – Territoire de Masisi (01 dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 2194 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BZ7?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(11 Dec 2008)

Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 707 Kb Date – 12 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M9CTJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Djibouti

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Horn of Africa: Exceptional Food Security Crisis (as of 11 Dec

2008)

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 745 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BFJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Eritrea

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Horn of Africa: Exceptional Food Security Crisis (as of 11 Dec

2008)

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 745 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BFJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Ethiopia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Horn of Africa: Exceptional Food Security Crisis (as of 11 Dec

2008)

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 745 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BFJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Kenya

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Horn of Africa: Exceptional Food Security Crisis (as of 11 Dec

2008)

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 745 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BFJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Mauritania

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Mauritania: Land Impact Survey 2006 Source – Survey Action Center Format – pdf ; 2844 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/CVIE-7MDRCH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: None

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The USAID FEWS NET Weather Hazards Impacts Assessment for Africa (December 11 – 17, 2008) Source – Famine Early Warning System Network, United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 391 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CXU?OpenDocument

Title – Africa: Emergency Situation in AFRO Countries – For week 08 12 2008 to 14 12 2008 Source – World Health Organization Format – pdf ; 343 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CNR?OpenDocument

Title – Afrique: Situation des Urgences dans les pays AFRO – Semaine du 08

12 2008 au 14 12 2008

Source – World Health Organization

Format – pdf ; 346 Kb

Date – 11 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CSB?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Somalia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Horn of Africa: Exceptional Food Security Crisis (as of 11 Dec

2008)

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 745 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M7BFJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Sudan (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) Status in Sudan as of June 2008 Source – Survey Action Center, UN Mine Action Office in Sudan Format – pdf ; 503 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/CVIE-7MDTG2?OpenDocument

Title – Counties of Southern Sudan (as of 04 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 552 Kb Date – 12 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7M9EA6?OpenDocument

Title – Payams of Southern Sudan (as of 11 Nov 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 603 Kb Date – 12 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7M9EDG?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Zimbabwe

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Spread of Cholera in Zimbabwe and South Africa – August to November

2008

Source – British Broadcasting Corporation Format – pdf ; 32 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M8MQ8?OpenDocument

Title – Zimbabwe: Areas Affected by Cholera Outbreaks (August – November

2008) showing locations of Cholera Treatment Centres/Units (as of 08 Dec

2008)

Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 374 Kb Date – 10 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7M7HTE?OpenDocument

Title – Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe (as of 12 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 460 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7MCACW?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: AMERICAS

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Argentina

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Crop monitoring in South America – November 2008 Source – European Commission Format – pdf ; 5481 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MCHRF?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Bolivia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Crop monitoring in South America – November 2008 Source – European Commission Format – pdf ; 5481 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MCHRF?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Brazil

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Crop monitoring in South America – November 2008 Source – European Commission Format – pdf ; 5481 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MCHRF?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Colombia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Colombia: Floods and Landslides (as of 01 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 251 Kb

Date – 11 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M8CTR?OpenDocument

Title – Colombia: Inundaciones y deslizamientos (al 1 diciembre de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb, Red de Información Humanitaria para América Latina y el Caribe Format – pdf ; 247 Kb Date – 12 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M9CM6?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Costa Rica

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Guatemala

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Honduras

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Panama

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Panama: Corregimientos Afectados/Inundaciones y Deslizamientos Provincias de Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro y Comarca Ngobe Bugle, 23 de Nov. – 10 de Dic. 2008 Source – Government of Panama Format – pdf ; 1644 Kb Date – 12 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M9BML?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Paraguay

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Crop monitoring in South America – November 2008 Source – European Commission Format – pdf ; 5481 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MCHRF?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Uruguay

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Crop monitoring in South America – November 2008 Source – European Commission Format – pdf ; 5481 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MCHRF?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: ASIA

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Iraq

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Iraq – IDP Movement Post 2006 – CAP 2009: Movement of IDPs from Baghdad, Diyala and Ninewa Governorates as of September 2008 Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 312 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8H3G?OpenDocument

Title – Iraq – IDPs and Returnees – CAP 2009: Number of IDPs and location of Returnees (as of Oct 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 171 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8EW9?OpenDocument

Title – Iraq – Pockets of vulnerability 2007 – CAP 2009: Districts with the highest numbers or proportions of people and households in need (as of Oct

2008)

Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 214 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8HAG?OpenDocument

Title – Iraq – Total reported security incidents 2008 (1 Jan – 19 Oct 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 303 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8ERY?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Malaysia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Malaysia: Floods and Landslides (as of 08 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 186 Kb

Date – 10 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M7JD9?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Pakistan

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Overview of earthquake affected districts of Ziarat & Quetta, Balochistan Province, Pakistan (as of 12 Dec 2008) Source – UNOSAT Format – pdf ; 1419 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7MDDZR?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Sri Lanka

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Sri Lanka: United Nations Offices Presence (as of 12 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 535 Kb Date – 15 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7MCJJE?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: EUROPE

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Belarus

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 10 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 86 Kb Date – 11 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7M8CZH?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: OCEANIA

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Kiribati

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Pacific Islands: Floods (as of 13 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 199 Kb

Date – 16 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MDJYV?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Marshall Islands (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Pacific Islands: Floods (as of 13 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 199 Kb

Date – 16 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MDJYV?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Micronesia (Federated States of)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Pacific Islands: Floods (as of 13 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 199 Kb

Date – 16 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MDJYV?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Papua New Guinea

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Papua New Guinea: Floods (as of 15 Dec 2008) – Situation Map Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 790 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7MDE7B?OpenDocument

Title – Pacific Islands: Floods (as of 13 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 199 Kb

Date – 16 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MDJYV?OpenDocument

Title – Papua New Guinea – King Tides in Bismarck and Solomon Seas – Affected Areas Reported as of 12 December 2008, v2 Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 187 Kb Date – 16 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7MDA6K?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Solomon Islands

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Pacific Islands: Floods (as of 13 Dec 2008) – Location Map Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 199 Kb

Date – 16 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7MDJYV?OpenDocument

Maps in action on the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/sci_nat_mapping_in_action/html/1.stm

Zimbabwe cholera outbreak area map

Source:

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

See attached document

Map – Zimbabwe: Areas Affected by Cholera

Outbreaks (August – November 2008) showing

locations of Cholera Treatment Centres/Units

(as of 08 Dec 2008)

Attachments:

Full_Report.pdf:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=A6E4D97165C999EEC125751C00458D01&file=Full_Report.pdf

Mobile 911 System could be a lifesaver

It’s everyone’s first reaction when an emergency strikes: Dial 911. But what if no one picks up?

That scenario isn’t as unlikely as it sounds. During Hurricane Katrina, dozens of 911 call centers in the area were out of service due to flooding, evacuation and loss of power. Most landlines weren’t working, and 70 percent of the cell phone towers in New Orleans had failed. “The communications infrastructure completely collapsed,” says Curtis Papke, an engineer at Idaho National Laboratory. “Even if you had cell coverage, there was no one at the 911 centers to answer the call.”

Papke’s group has partnered with the Idaho National Guard and the company Qualcomm Inc. to find a possible solution. Using an off-the-shelf Qualcomm product, the INL team devised a mobile emergency response unit that can receive 911 cell phone calls when a disaster knocks out the usual call centers. The system essentially creates a portable, stand-alone cellular network, so people can call for help even when commercial carriers are down. During an October demonstration with the Idaho National Guard, INL engineers showed they could successfully connect 911 calls to the Guard’s radio system, as well as receive pictures and GPS coordinates to help emergency responders find victims.

The idea for a mobile 911 unit came to Papke in the aftermath of Katrina, when emergency response teams began revamping their communication technology to prepare for the next major disaster. The National Guard focused on deploying a new system called the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) that would allow different types of responders, such as police, firefighters and medical teams, to talk on the same radio network. Cell phone companies began developing a way to transfer 911 calls to remote operators when needed, in addition to assembling portable towers that could be brought into a disaster zone to restore service.

But the improved technology didn’t include a way for people to call for help when cell phone networks were down. This could become an especially critical problem after unexpected disasters like earthquakes or terrorist attacks, Papke says, when phone companies would be left scrambling to transport and set up their emergency equipment. “You still have the problem of grandma sitting on a roof dialing 911,” he says. Instead of getting information directly from the victims, disaster responders end up doing random searches of the area — an inefficient way to find people in distress.

With INL engineers Steve Schares, Juan Deaton and Dustin Bacon, Papke investigated the possibility of bringing 911 call receiving capability to the National Guard, which has units in every state and is usually one of the first responders on a disaster scene. The team settled on a commercially available product called the Qualcomm Deployable Base Station, a portable device about the size of a Xerox machine that provides a small, independent cellular network. The unit can pick up cell phone calls made within a 3- to 10-mile radius and — thanks to some technical tweaks by Schares — route the caller to the National Guard system. If the phone’s GPS option is turned on, the equipment automatically detects the caller’s location and uses software written by INL engineer Jason Wright to plot it on a Google Earth map.

The system won’t have the capacity to provide service to everyone who wants to check on their family and friends, and it can only receive calls from mobile phones, not landlines. But it will at least provide a way for victims with cell phones to call 911, Papke says. “You’ve got a completely mobile emergency communication center that can roll into a disaster area,” he says.

The team tested the technology in October with three members of the Idaho National Guard. In a warehouse at the INL Site’s Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex, the Guard members hooked up their emergency response equipment to the mobile 911 system. Papke successfully placed a 911 cell phone call from the warehouse parking lot to Guard member Susan Barroso, a senior airman acting as emergency operator, who then connected Papke to another officer on the National Guard land mobile radio network. Within minutes, a laptop screen displayed a photo taken with Papke’s phone and a Google Earth map with his GPS coordinates.

National Guard Lt. Col. Dean Hagerman said the system would be especially useful in rural or sparsely populated areas, which tend to be lower-priority for cell phone companies rushing to restore service in urban centers. After Hurricane Ike, for example, cellular service quickly came back in Houston but not in outlying counties that also were hit hard by the storm.

“In a community like that, being able to bring that 911 capability is outstanding,” Hagerman said during the October demo. “Since the Guard is usually one of the first groups to come in after a disaster, having this integrated into a Guard communication package makes it that much more valuable.”

The team still needs to add a filtering step to screen out non-911 calls. And the current system requires a cell phone to be specially programmed in order to send pictures to the National Guard, so INL engineers plan to investigate the possibility of configuring the phone remotely when a victim calls. The team also wants to boost the number of calls that can be handled at once, increase the network’s range with a better antenna and make the equipment work with more cell phone types. Eventually, the team hopes to conduct a statewide demonstration that will test the system more thoroughly and persuade the National Guard to adopt it.

“Ultimately, it will save lives and minimize suffering in a great disaster, simply because you’ve created a communications path for people to reach first responders when they need to,” Papke says.

ReliefWeb Maps update

Please find below a list of updated information from the ReliefWeb Site. If you do not have Web access and wish to receive the full documents via Email, simply copy the reference to a desired document (including the link), reply to this message and paste the reference into the body of the new Email. Please limit each request to a single document.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: AFRICA

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Burundi

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi: Population Movement (as of 05 Dec 2008)

- Situation Map

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 828 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2HHR?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Canary Islands (Spain)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Province du Sud-Kivu, République Démocratique du Congo: Zones affectées par le wilt dans la region de Minova (06 dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 982 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CY9?OpenDocument

Title – Republique Democratique du Congo: Province Orientale – District du Haut Uélé – Territoire de Dungu – Déplacements de population suite aux attaques de la LRA depuis septembre 2008 (Situation au 04 Décembre 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 667 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2DPL?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (as of 04 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 729 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2C7W?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Ethiopia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Ethiopia: Flood (as of 24 Nov 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 1798 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2C3H?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Ethiopia (as of 04 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 420 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2CB8?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: None

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The USAID FEWS NET Weather Hazards Impacts Assessment for Africa (December 4 – 10, 2008) Source – Famine Early Warning System Network, United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 256 Kb Date – 04 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LZBSF?OpenDocument

Title – Africa: Emergency Situation in AFRO Countries – For week 01 12 2008 to 07 12 2008 Source – World Health Organization Format – pdf ; 322 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LYAV2?OpenDocument

Title – Afrique: Situation des Urgences dans les pays AFRO – Semaine du 01

12 2008 au 07 12 2008

Source – World Health Organization

Format – pdf ; 322 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LYBSX?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Rwanda

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi: Population Movement (as of 05 Dec 2008)

- Situation Map

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 828 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2HHR?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Somalia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Flood Watch Somalia (as of 02 Dec 2008) Source – Famine Early Warning System Network, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United States Geological Survey Format – pdf ; 316 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LYC67?OpenDocument

Title – Hijacked Vessels Offshore from Eyl, Somalia (as of 02 Dec 2008) Source – UNOSAT Format – pdf ; 1092 Kb Date – 04 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7LZDFD?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Sudan (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Non-Food Items Sector Partners and Common Pipeline Pilot Project – South Sudan, 24 November 2008 Source – United Nations Joint Logistics Centre Format – pdf ; 710 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LYBY7?OpenDocument

Title – USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad Map book (as of 05 Dec 2008) Source – United States Agency for International Development Format – pdf ; 1195 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CUB?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Uganda

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi: Population Movement (as of 05 Dec 2008)

- Situation Map

Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 828 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2HHR?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Zimbabwe

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Zimbabwe: Cholera (as of 03 Dec 2008) – Situation Map Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 766 Kb Date – 04 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LZAZG?OpenDocument

Title – Zimbabwe: Areas Affected by Cholera Outbreaks (August – November

2008) showing locations of Cholera Treatment Centres/Units (as of 02 Dec

2008)

Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Format – pdf ; 373 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7LYKPJ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: AMERICAS

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Anguilla

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Antigua and Barbuda

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Bahamas (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Barbados

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Belize

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Bermuda

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Brazil

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Brazil: Floods (as of 02 Dec 2008) – Situation Map Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 593 Kb Date – 04 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LZAWS?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: British Virgin Islands

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Cayman Islands

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Colombia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Colombia: Volcanoes (as of 02 Dec 2008) – Situation Map Source – International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Format – pdf ; 349 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LYDQP?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Costa Rica

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Costa Rica: Localidades Reportadas con Danos Relativos al Evento Hidrometereologico Frente Frio y Sistema de Baja Pression (al 03 de diciembre 2008) Source – Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias Format – pdf ; 271 Kb Date – 03 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7LYKQB?OpenDocument

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Cuba

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Dominica

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Dominican Republic (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Ecuador

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: El Salvador

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Guatemala

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Guatemala: Mapa de la Ubicacion de Albergues Habilitados para la Temporada de Frio a Nivel Municipal (al 2 de diciembre de 2008) Source – Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion de Desastres Format – pdf ; 112 Kb Date – 04 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JOPA-7LZBKN?OpenDocument

Title – Guatemala: Mapa de la Ubicacion de Albergues Habilitados para la Temporada de Frio y Personas Albergadas a Nivel Municipal al 2 de Diciembre de 2008 Source – Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion de Desastres Format – pdf ; 123 Kb Date – 05 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2CHD?OpenDocument

Title – Guatemala: Mapa de la Ubicacion de Albergues Habilitados para la Temporada de Frio y Personas Albergadas a Nivel Municipal al 5 de Diciembre de 2008 Source – Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion de Desastres Format – pdf ; 113 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7M6JPG?OpenDocument

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Guyana

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Haiti

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Honduras

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Jamaica

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Martinique (France)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Mexico

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Netherlands Antilles (The Netherlands)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Nicaragua

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Panama

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – The MFEWS Central America Weather Hazards and Benefits Assessment For November 27 – December 3, 2008 Source – Famine Early Warning System Network Format – pdf ; 423 Kb Date – 09 Dec 2008 URL Address – http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M6CRG?OpenDocument

Title – Panama: Corregimientos Afectados/Inundaciones y Deslizamientos Provincias de Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro y Comarca Ngobe Bugle, 23 de Nov. -

1 de Dic. 2008

Source – Government of Panama

Format – pdf ; 1670 Kb

Date – 05 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2CNA?OpenDocument

Title – Panama: Corregimientos Afectados/Inundaciones y Deslizamientos Provincias de Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro y Comarca Ngobe Bugle, 23 de Nov. -

2 de Dic. 2008

Source – Government of Panama

Format – pdf ; 1661 Kb

Date – 05 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7M2CWZ?OpenDocument

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Puerto Rico (The United States of America)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Saint Kitts and Nevis

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Saint Lucia

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Trinidad and Tobago

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Turks and Caicos Islands

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: United States of America (the)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: United States Virgin Islands

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

Title – Tempora de Huracanes 2008 (al 3 de dic de 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 536 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYSEQ?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Caribbean Hurricane Season (as of 3 Dec 2008) Source – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- ReliefWeb

Format – pdf ; 559 Kb

Date – 03 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/DDLO-7LYP7X?OpenDocument

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

REGION: ASIA

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Country: Sri Lanka

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Title – Overview of Flood Waters in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka (as of

03 Dec 2008)

Source – UNOSAT

Format – pdf ; 1451 Kb

Date – 04 Dec 2008

URL Address -

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FBUO-7LZDU5?OpenDocument

UNESCO underground water map

The Map Room provide links regarding the UNESCO publication of the first world map of underground transboundary aquifers. A NewScientist article’s introduction: “They are one of the world’s greatest and most precious natural resources, yet are entirely hidden. Now, for the first time, a high-resolution map shows where underground aquifers store vast amounts of water. The map of “blue gold” (pdf format, 4 MB) is the result of nearly a decade of sometimes difficult talks between neighbouring governments, mediated by UNESCO. The hope is that it will help pave the way to an international law to govern how water is shared around the world. Aquifers are underground layers of rocks or sediments from which water can be extracted – normally by drilling boreholes or digging wells. They hold 100 times the volume of freshwater that flows down rivers and streams around the world at any time. What the UNESCO map reveals is just how many aquifers cross international borders. So far, the organisation has identified 273 trans-boundary aquifers: 68 in the Americas, 38 in Africa, 155 in Eastern and Western Europe and 12 in Asia. Each trans-boundary aquifer holds the potential for international conflict – if two countries share an aquifer, pumping in one country will affect its neighbour’s water supply.” See also several previous related stories below.

Nokia Maps Update Adds 3D Topography, Route Sync With Your PC

from Gizmodo by John Mahoney

Along with the brand new touch N97, Nokia also unveiled new software at its Nokia World show in Spain today—bringing a free new version of Maps and updated email/IM services.

The new Maps 3.0 Beta adds 3D topography and landmarks for 216 cities, high-res satellite photos, improved pedestrian directions and better turn-by-turn support. You can also plan a route online via Nokia’s desktop Ovi service and then sync it immediately back to your phone. Anyone using S60 FP2 can download the new Maps beta today—Nokia’s acquisition of Navteq is definitely showing its benefits here.

The new Messaging upgrade ties in all of your email and IM accounts, providing push services for some accounts and more syncing via Ovi if you have a 1GB Ovi Mail account. Messaging with Ovi sync will launch later this month.

So if you’re using a Nokia S60 piece, go grab these updates. [Nokia Maps 3.0 Beta, Nokia Messaging]