SERVIR-Himalaya partner organization earns Humanitarian Award

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the SERVIR-Himalaya host organization, earned the Esri Humanitarian GIS Award on 20 July 2015 for their contribution to the Nepalese government’s disaster response efforts following the recent earthquakes in the country.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal on April 25th, followed by a 7.3-magnitude aftershock on  May 12th. As a result, close to 9,000 people have lost their lives, 23,000 have been injured, and more than 785,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. About 2.8 million people have been displaced.

In the aftermath of this horrific disaster, the ICIMOD staff of about 40 individuals worked around the clock.

“In a disaster situation like the one Nepal faced, collecting, managing, processing, and disseminating timely and reliable information becomes critical to relief and recovery operations,” said ICIMOD’s Director General Dr. David Molden. “Therefore, what we did was bring together an international coalition of relevant institutions to deliver that crucial and critical information to the Government of Nepal and others to inform relief and recovery efforts.”

Collaborating with Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs and with technical support from Environmental System Research Institute (Esri), ICIMOD developed and deployed the ‘Nepal Earthquake 2015: Disaster Relief and Recovery Information Platform’ (NDRRIP). This geoportal provides interactive maps, charts, and infographics about the earthquakes and relief efforts. It is in use by regional and global partners including space agencies, UN organizations, donor agencies, academic and research organizations, relief organizations, local NGOs, private sector organizations, and civil society.

Esri president Jack Dangermond presents award  to ICIMOD's Basanta Shrestha and Sudip Pradhan

ICIMOD identified more than 3,000 landslides and assembled a database of over 250 landslides and other large mass movements; conducted a special geo-hazards assessment of the Langtang Valley; and examined the condition of Nepal’s most dangerous glacial lakes and provided an update of priority lakes. They also assisted helicopter pilots flying rescue and relief sorties by providing crucial flight information to help them navigate unfamiliar terrain, identify destinations, map potential flight paths, and plan appropriate landing sites using satellite remote sensing and GIS data information.

“ICIMOD’s resolve and tireless efforts in the face of such devastation truly inspire us,” said Esri founder/president Jack Dangermond. “Their work has already had huge impact and they continue to drive relief and recovery efforts in Nepal.”

The award was presented at the 2015 Esri User Conference in San Diego, California.