The world faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has been exacerbated by the US’s suspension of foreign aid, experts say. Around 100 people die each hour from lack of life-saving assistance, they add.
The conflicting priorities of the international humanitarian system mean that the work of humanitarian organisations has never been more important. But they are facing many challenges in their effort to provide impartial, evidence-based information on the observed reality on the ground and illustrate the need for human rights-based and context-specific solutions.
In conflict zones and other restricted environments, humanitarians often act as critical on-the-ground witnesses, sharing key contextual information about a humanitarian crisis and illustrating the need for support to left-behind populations. They also play a vital role in supporting the media by providing access to credible, firsthand information and perspectives.
However, in the post-truth era, infoglut and disinformation can have serious repercussions for NGOs’ reputations and impact on critical humanitarian response. They can fuel claims that NGOs are not neutral, and they can also lead to decreased community acceptance that affects their ability to reach vulnerable populations.
To respond to these threats, humanitarian organisations must ensure that they are well-informed and strategic in their external communications strategies. They should invest in grassroot and joint communication initiatives, prioritise humanitarian diplomacy efforts, and build resilience to withstand the impacts of the changing media landscape. They must also continue to develop their internal communication capacities with a strong, principled understanding of the human dimensions of crises.