Social Media and International Disaster Response
More than simply vehicles for personal communication, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools are also proving to be vital components for timely and effective responses to natural and man- made disasters. From flood and earthquake relief to supplying essential supplies and support to refugees during military conflicts, traditional humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross and the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are beginning to use social media to map their responses in times of need. We spoke with one of the world's leaders in the field, Gisli Olafsson, to learn about his work and that of his organization, NetHope.
Gisli Olafsson is the Emergency Response Director for NetHope, a consortium of the world's largest NGOs. His previous experience is a unique blend of technology and disaster management having worked for companies and organizations like Microsoft, and the Icelandic International Urban Search and Rescue Team.