If you've read any stories coming out of Syria, then you probably know about the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. But very few know about liveuamap.com.
Look it up, it's that easy. While the venture started with the Ukraine war in February 2014, the website now covers key conflicts in the Middle East: Syria, Daesh (ISIS) and Gaza. The 11-member staff plans to launch Egypt and Turkey soon.
"We are going to cover all the world," CEO Rodion Rozkhovsky wrote. "One of our goals in future is conflict prevention."
The difference between liveuamap and groups like Human Rights Watch is in the data. For one it's more transparent, open to anyone who has Internet access. And because liveuamap.com uses social media, it's faster. Interviewing contacts on the ground takes days to confirm, while Rozkhovsky's map uses open-source data to report on what's happening live.
How exactly can data reporting prevent wars? Data can not only lead to protecting civilians — helping them become aware of their situation — but also anticipating the next move. Charting attacks on a map could lead to recognizing patterns.
Or at least, that’s what intelligence officials and activists are hoping.
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