MapAction helps flood-hit islands

Tuesday 1st May 2012

Thousands of people left homeless due to heavy flooding and landslides on the Comoros Islands will be helped by charity MapAction.

Two volunteers have travelled to the Indian Ocean islands to map out the needs of 46,000 affected by torrential rains since April 20.

MapAction, based near High Wycombe, supports aid agencies by creating and sharing maps of priority areas which require immediate co-ordinated relief help.

With flooding and landslides hindering the humanitarian efforts, the charity's volunteers will help to identify the best routes to help thousands of people living on the poverty-stricken Islands.

Some villages are completely flooded, causing the populations to evacuate, and in other areas, schools have been cut off and water and electricity supplies have been disrupted.

Concerns are also growing over the spread of diseases including cholera and malaria.

This is MapAction's first mission to the Comoros Islands, but volunteers deployed to neighbouring Madagascar in February.

---