Project overview
Current projects
Tsunami | Emergencies | 3W | Schools | Health
Post-tsunami mapping programme
Tsunami related relief and development programmes have been supported by Mearch maps since the beginning of 2005. Initially, maps have been produced providing insight into the progress of tent camps, shelter sites and later the construction of houses throughout the coastal areas of Batticaloa District. Shelter and housing maps are being updated every twelve weeks. Go directly to the maps.Maps of shelter sites comprise both the government relocation sites and the temporary shelters on private land. This data is initially collected in the field, and gradually, through a network of responsible NGOs, this data is now collected by visiting key actors and government. In case of doubts, field visits are being made. Knowledge of the field guarantees the high accuracy of the data.
Maps of permanent housing construction have been produced by combining field visits and data of the Sri Lankan Goverment, initially using data of THRU. Gradually, the maps have become the cornerstone of construction coordination meetings.
The procedure of mapping tents, shelters, and housing programmes is not always the same. Mearch is trying to find the right balance between fieldwork, network of NGOs and government departments. Our aim is to try and combine essential information so that maps provide just that tiny bit more that makes them useful.
Emergency mapping
For sudden emergencies, MEARCH has some standby fieldwork and mapping capacity. In case of flooding or displacement of people due to violence, MEARCH is capable in visiting the area as soon as possible and is able to have maps ready within hours. Currently, MEARCH is processing data to produce emergency maps showing the most useful locations in case of sudden emergencies. Also, on a weekly basis, IDP migration is mapped out, covering all areas in Batticaloa District, using data from Divisional Secretariats, Kachcheri and United Nations. For instance, monday morning the latest IDP figures are collected at the municipality, and within sixty minutes, an overview map is produced and distributed at the IDP coordination meeting, that same morning. See IDP for more information.
Who is doing what and where
Different organisations are working on the topic "who is doing what, where", also known as "3W". Mearch is combining fieldwork, and the network of actors in the field to combine these different databases and produce detailed maps about where people work. Accessibility of remote areas is impossible at the moment, therefore field visits are no option.
With some delay due to the insecure situation because of increased violence throughout the district, maps are being made on a Divisional level, comprising an overview map of the different development sectors, and a sub-sector map of each of the topics covered.
- Map A. Overview map of sectors covered
- Map B - H. Sector maps, covering topics such as Health, Livelihood, Psychosocial and Construction.
- Maps are linked to network intensity index and poverty profile to provide a quick insight into the least covered areas.
Internally Displaced Person (IDP) migration.
Ongoing fighting in some of the remote areas of the District has led to increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The locations where people go to are carefully mapped out, and information about the site (such as number of families, location type, location name) are presented on frequently updated IDP maps.
