All posts tagged: disaster relief

Venezuela Earthquake Destruction Revealed in New Satellite Images

Venezuela Earthquake Destruction Revealed in New Satellite Images

Satellite Technology Is being used to streamline rescue efforts in Venezuela following the two earthquakes that struck on June 24. Space agencies have shared images with emergency authorities and the Venezuelan government that not only reveal the magnitude of the disaster but also allow response teams to identify where to focus their efforts—and the challenges on the ground. Following the twin earthquakes in Venezuela, the Copernicus satellite system activated its emergency mapping mode at the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Using imagery collected by Sentinel satellites and sensors, the system has generated 10 products and 25 maps that enable real-time assessment of the extent of damage and how terrain has shifted in 13 areas of interest. In addition, these tools have helped officials identify clear areas that can be used for landing aircraft involved in rescue operations and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Initial data from Copernicus shows severe damage in the cities of La Guaira and Greater Caracas, as well as impacts on communities in Aragua, …

After DOGE cuts, US awards 0M to Catholic relief group

After DOGE cuts, US awards $240M to Catholic relief group

(RNS) — More than a year after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency slashed federal funding for Catholic Relief Services as it dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department announced it would give the Catholic agency more than $240 million for humanitarian and disaster response assistance. Catholic Relief Services is the international relief arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and it partners with other Catholic relief organizations that are also members of Caritas Internationalis around the globe. CRS was the top recipient of funding from USAID.  In a Friday (June 5) press release, the State Department said the funding for CRS would be used for food, water, health, sanitation and shelter in “countries with significant levels of humanitarian need,” including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria and Sudan. CRS is already working to respond to the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Before last year’s USAID cuts, federal funding supported about half of CRS’ $1.5 billion budget, making the $240 million grant a fraction …