It is an integrated set of pluggable, web-based disaster management applications that provide solutions to large-scale humanitarian problems in the wake of a disaster.

It was initially built by a group of volunteers consisting mostly of the Sri Lankan IT industry and spearheaded by Lanka Software Foundation (LSF). The LSF is a free and open source software research and development nonprofit organization in collaboration with IBM.

'While SAHANA cannot solve all the problems in a disaster, it is an excellent tool to create registries that can provide timely and reliable information on missing persons, donated goods and services, camp locations, and the like,' IBM Philippines general manager Joaquin Quintos IV said in a statement.