Afghanistan: Geospatial Analysis Conveys Current Conditions under the Taliban

Nov 13, 2024 | Olivier Cottray
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When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, one of its first policies was to ban poppy cultivation. The halt in a trade so intertwined with the country’s economy was bound to affect its most vulnerable people.

Richard Brittan, managing director of the geospatial analysis firm Alcis, got to work creating a clear picture of the humanitarian impact. Using high-resolution satellite imagery and geographic information system (GIS) technology, Alcis’s analysis could tell the stories of human suffering and political instability to support aid efforts. Through maps and data, analysts could monitor key factors including changes in crops and the movement of migrants to Europe.