The devastation of Typhoon Haiyan is now widely known across the world. Sweeping through the Philippines last Saturday, the storm affected 13 million people. 4 million people have been displaced from their homes and the death toll stands at well over 3,500.

Online technology has completely changed our world. In giving humanity this powerful tool, our reaction to natural disasters and the way that the internet is utilised to help those in need has also changed drastically. Social media has played an important role in the disaster’s relief. Communication across networking channels helped survivors, relief workers and supporters all around the world. Let’s take a look at two reasons why:

Online Mapping

With the use of online mapping software, international experts have contributed their efforts to create a more coherent picture of the disaster. Using software that scans social noise from all over the internet, they can sort through data from tweets, posts and photos. Through Twitter crowdsourcing, the software scans for relevant keywords and hashtags related to the disaster, such as “infrastructure damage”, “blankets needed” or “medical needs”.

This data combined with geotagging and geographic information system (GIS) analysis creates a live map that helps to give a more location-specific picture of the crisis. The tool has been instrumental to aid agencies, enabling them to create well-planned strategies for the distribution of resources.

Raising Money and Awareness Online

Many charities, organisations and individuals swarmed to social media channels to reach out for support. Facebook teamed up with the Red Cross, featuring a call to donate at the top of user news feeds.

Twitter also pledged to help, posting a call to action on its homepage. Unsurprisingly, both of these efforts gained a lot of exposure and as result was hugely successful, generating millions of dollars in donations.

A surgeon from the city of Iloilo, Dr. Evangeline Cua, posted a message across all of her social networks asking for people to donate money for a medical team to be sent out to the crisis. Through the power of social sharing and the support of the public, within 24 hours Evangeline had raised £30,000 in private donations – a sum that paid for a team and medicine.

Many sellers on Pinterest also showed their support by donating some or all of their profits to the cause. The UNICEF charity posted an infographic to raise awareness and advertising agency, BBO Guerrero encouraged Instagram users to post “unselfies”– to hold up a call to action asking their followers to donate. GlobalGiving  also harnessed the power of social sharing – when a person makes a donation on their site they have the opportunity to share this news across their social networks.

Considering the vital role that social media has played in the recovery process of Typhoon Haiyan, it is difficult to agree with a widespread belief that social media channels damage the effectiveness of charity efforts. In some cases, yes, it can be said that ‘slacktivism’ is prevalent, but when websites and its users stand up, shout, share and donate, it is a world changing, beautiful thing to see.

Typhoon Hiyan has destroyed the homes and lives of millions of people. Just because the coverage has died down, it doesn’t mean they are done needing help. Any and all donations will really do some good in time of terrible hardship. To donate just £5 text DONATE to 70000. You can also donate online at DEC – The Disaster Emergency Comittee