Citation

Ahmad J, Ahmad A, Ahmad MM, Ahmad N. Geospat. Health 2017; 12(2): e576.

Affiliation

Department of Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani. junaid.ahmad@ait.asia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Global Network for Geospatial Health, Publisher University of Naples)

DOI

10.4081/gh.2017.576

PMID

29239566

Abstract

Millions of people are currently displaced from their homes because of local and international conflicts. In the last two decades, a substantial increase in the number of displaced people has been recorded. We measured the social vulnerabilities of displaced populations using a mathematical approach in combination with application of geographical information systems (GIS) tools and techniques to visualise movement and draw attention to the location of significant concentration of vulnerabilities. A retrospective study approach based on datasets collected from governmental and non-governmental organisations working with refugees and internally displaced persons in Pakistan was used. We applied simple mathematical formulas to calculate and map various types of vulnerability, such as refugee population, absorption capacity, unmet needs and overall vulnerability. This approach displays risks and vulnerabilities of displaced populations in an easily understood and straightforward manner that can be replicated in other parts of the world.

Language: en

Keywords

Disaster planning; GIS; Pakistan; Population surveillance; Vulnerable populations