Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping Activated to monitor displacement of people in Afghanistan

Herat, a city in western Afghanistan, is the current destination for a significant number of Internally Displaced People (IDP).

According to the UN, 133,000 Afghani citizens have been displaced in 2018 alone due to fighting. The current movement towards Herat has led refugees to create make-shift tents in 40 degree weather.

The EU Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) has declared the situation a high-level emergency.

On 13 July, DG ECHO activated the EMS Rapid Mapping Component to provide information for operational analysis in the field. Four reference maps, displaying the local features and populations, and ten delineation maps were delivered, showing tents and monitoring changes. These maps were produced over four Areas of Interest (AoIs): Jalil Abad, Kahdestan, Shaidayee and Sharak Sabz. They are available on the EMS website: Activation EMSR296.

For further updates on this activation, follow Copernicus EMS on Twitter.

This delineation map of Shaidayee shows, between 28 June and 10 July, 1,378 tents were set-up, 470 were removed, and 3,551 remained as people moved towards Herat
(Copernicus EMS © 2018 EU, EMSR296 – Shaidayee: Delineation Map, Monitoring 1)

This delineation map of Sharak Sabz shows, between 27 June and 14 July, 264 tents were set-up, 118 were removed, and 646 remained as people moved towards Herat
(Copernicus EMS © 2018 EU, EMSR296 – Sharak Sabz: Delineation Map, Monitoring 1)

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