UN Satellites Photograph Human Exodus
By Chris Albon, March 5th, 2008,
I am continuously impressed with UNOSAT’s ability to use satellite imagery in creative ways. On February 27th, UNOSAT released a satellite-derived estimation of the number of civilians leaving the Chadian capital of N’Djamena and heading towards the Cameroonian border. The satellite photos are simply stunning. This is the first set of images I have seen capturing the epic scale of refugee flows. Each point on the photo is an individual and each yellow box a vehicle. The UN estimates that one photo contains 10,200 pedestrians and 80 vehicles.
Chris is a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis. His current research interests include human security, and the relationship between armed conflict and public health. He lives in San Francisco with his wife Jen. Read more about him at his website.
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