BRIDGING THE GAP - REMOTE-SENSING AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT - A FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH DISPLACED POPULATIONS

Displaced populations present difficult challenges for humanitarian as sistance organizations. Not least are the tasks of locating, denominat ing and assessing the needs of the displaced when they flee danger and ground access is difficult. Remote sensing can help accomplish these tasks, but is infrequently used in humanitarian assistance operations. The paper uses a displaced-population needs assessment in Liberia to identify key points on how remote sensing can contribute to the assess ment process. The points include the need for good operational and str ategic planning, the use of appropriate data collection methods (parti cularly video cameras) and the need to involve a broad group of knowle dgeable people in data analysis (which is greatly facilitated by the u se of video). The paper is of particular interest to two groups: human itarian assistance personnel, as an example of a successful use of rem ote sensing; and remote sensing specialists and commercial service pro viders, as an example of low technology, low cost, low complexity, rap id aerial data collection. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.