Visualizing Hunger in the Horn of Africa

Drought, conflict and rising food prices have put the lives of millions of people in the Horn of Africa at risk. Today, on World Humanitarian Day, citizens and governments alike are looking for ways to help victims of the East Africa drought. According to the State Department, more people than the combined populations of New York City and Houston need urgent assistance in the Horn of Africa. To understand the scope of the unfolding humanitarian disaster, explore the embedded map below.

[Map embedded here in original article]

The map was built by Development Seed using open source tools and open data. It includes estimates from the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) and the Food Security and Nutrition Survey Unit - Somalia (FSNAU), coupled with data from the UN Office of Humanitarian Coordination and Affairs (UN OCHA). The map mashes up operational data from the World Food Program with situational data to show how resources are being allocated.

"This is about more than just creating a new map," writes Nate Smith, a data lead at Development Seed...