The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development wins award for its contribution to relief efforts in the aftermath of Nepal’s devastating earthquake
The Kathmandu based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)—an intergovernmental organization in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region —has been awarded with Humanitarian Geographic Information System (GIS) award for its contribution to providing information during the aftermath of the April earthquake in Nepal.
The award was announced in San Diego, California during a conference organised by the Environmental System Research Institute (Esri). Handing out the award on Monday, Esri president Jack Dangermond said, “ICIMOD’s resolve and tireless efforts in the face of such devastation truly inspire us.”
According to ICIMOD, the interactive platform combines key data at the national, district and village levels with interactive maps, charts and infographics and has been integrated with Nepal Home Ministry’s official website, to reach out to the public.
“The platform also features information on geo-hazards, including field data on landslides with 3D visualisation and a near real-time incident reporting system,” said Basanta Shrestha, ICIMOD’s director of strategic cooperation and leader of the disaster response team.
In a press statement today, ICIMOD said it has identified over 3,000 landslides, assembled a database of over 250 landslides and other large mass movements and conducted a special geo-hazards assessment of the Langtang Valley in the Nepal-China border, a region particularly hard hit by the recent quake.
ICIMOD has also examined the condition of Nepal’s most dangerous glacial lakes and assisted helicopter pilots flying rescue and relief sorties by providing crucial flight information to help them navigate unfamiliar terrain and plan appropriate landing sites.
“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 David Molden.