What problem we are trying to solve?

When Minutes Matter: The Hidden Crisis in Emergency Response

The worst part of my job isn't the crisis - it's knowing we could help more people if we just had better tools - Operation Acolhida humanitarian worker

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and fires force millions of people to leave their homes in search of safe shelter, impacting local economies (approximately USD 268 billion in 2023). In Brazil, a recent case of floods in Rio Grande do Sul affected more than 2.3 million people in 478 different municipalities, placing Brazil as the leader in disaster-displaced people in the Americas. At the peak of this situation, more than 74,000 people were housed in over 800 temporary shelters across the state.

Think about that for a moment: 74,000 people suddenly needing shelter, food, and medical care. Now multiply that challenge across the globe. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reports that over 32 million people were displaced by disasters in 2023 alone. But here's the shocking part - this represents only a fraction of those needing humanitarian assistance, with the UN reporting 362 million people in need worldwide.

You might assume that in 2024, we'd have sophisticated systems to coordinate these massive relief efforts. The reality? Most humanitarian organizations are still relying on a patchwork of spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages, and emails to manage life-saving operations. Our research with humanitarian professionals in Brazil shows that 84% of humanitarians rely on spreadsheets to manage their beneficiary information. This isn't just inefficient - it's may cost lives.

Take the 2010 Haiti earthquake response as a warning. As hundreds of organizations rushed to help, the lack of coordinated information systems led to chaos. Some areas received duplicated aid while others got none. Fast forward to the recent floods in Rio Grande do Sul, and we see the same patterns: emergency teams struggling to track needs, verify information, and coordinate responses effectively.

The problem isn't a lack of dedication or resources - it's the absence of proper tools. Local organizations, who are first on the scene in almost all emergencies, are trying to manage complex crises with tools designed for office work, not emergency response. The result is slower response times, wasted resources, and ultimately, more suffering for those already in crisis.

But there's hope. By developing accessible, integrated emergency management systems, we can transform how communities prepare for and respond to crises. W are creating the technology - now it's about getting it into the hands of those who need it most.

Help us succeed on that, you can support our mission here.