The whole world is watching: Google shines light on refugee camps
The tool, Google Earth Outreach, will help to highlight efforts to help millions of people forced to flee their homes because of war and other conflicts.
Using Google Earth and Maps, the agencies can create multimedia presentations by layering text, audio and video over maps showing where refugee hotspots are located.
"By showing our work in its geographical context, we can really highlight the challenges we face on the ground and how we tackle them," said Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees L. Craig Johnstone.
The tool launches with a focus on three major areas of displacement: Chad and Darfur in Africa, Iraq and Colombia. More map layers depicting other refugee crises around the world will be added during the rest of 2008, Johnstone noted.
