In February 2023, devastating earthquakes shook Turkey and Syria, claiming over 55,000 lives and impacting countless others. Amid the destruction, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOTOSM) became a lifeline, providing critical mapping data for disaster response and recovery. HOTOSM’s StoryMap (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d86ffbde8db449c2bc1471fde1ba2157) offers insights into how timely, accessible geospatial data saves lives.
Imagine navigating a disaster zone where familiar landmarks are reduced to rubble, roads are impassable, and communication networks are down. This was the stark reality faced by first responders and aid organizations in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes. Pre-existing maps were rendered useless by the widespread damage, which hindered rescue efforts and delaying aid delivery.
HOTOSM’s Rapid Response
HOTOSM, a global network of volunteer mappers, mobilized quickly to support relief efforts in Turkey and Syria. Volunteers created maps that higlighted:
- Building footprints and roads
- Locations of destroyed buildings
- Critical resources like hospitals, pharmacies, and food depots
This data became essential for:
- Coordinating logistics: Pinpointing safe routes for aid deliveries and resources
- Planning rescues: Locating areas with collapsed buildings for potential rescues
- Public health management: Assisting with outbreak monitoring and vaccination planning
Dr. Mehmet Faruk Uçum, a physician in the largest tent city in Kahramanmaraş, used OpenStreetMap to plan scabies inspections, vaccinations, and manage quarantines. The maps also guided authorities on performing essential tasks like power line installations.
Beyond Immediate Response: Climate-Smart Reconstruction
HOTOSM’s impact goes beyond immediate relief, it supports a vision of climate-smart rebuilding. OpenStreetMap data helps communities:
- Prioritize reconstruction needs: By pinpointing severely affected areas.
- Advance climate-smart planning: They helped guide placement of resilient infrastructure.
- Engage communities actively: Involving locals in the rebuilding process.
In Turkey and Syria, HOTOSM’s maps became indispensable. Enabling responders, aid organizations, and communities to navigate complex disaster responses. As regions worldwide face similar challenges, OpenStreetMap clearly demonstrates the power of community mapping in protecting lives and building resilience.