When the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022, an exodus of more than five million people ensued, with many more later. In the initial surge, crisis response organizations immediately mobilized to bring humanitarian aid to those who were displaced, most of them women and children. As the deadly campaign unfolded, staff and volunteers from nonprofit MapAction—all of them skilled in the use of GIS technology— also deployed. For two months, they equipped response teams with digital maps and geographic analysis that helped guide efforts to save lives and reduce suffering. When Crisis Ensues, MapAction Volunteers Map the Road to Safety In operation since 2002, MapAction dispatched GIS professionals to neighboring Poland within 24 hours of a request to support agencies involved in delivering humanitarian aid. In their day jobs, MapAction volunteers use GIS to help governments, businesses, and other organizations maximize efficiency and improve decision-making. During a crisis, MapAction’s GIS professionals do the same, providing location intelligence products that create a common operating picture. 110 Family members embrace after being reunited after fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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