| The Role of Communications & Information Technology: A New Report |
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 The two disasters experienced by Haiti in 2010 – the January earthquake and the October outbreak of cholera – provided an opportunity to address “a long-acknowledged gap in humanitarian response: the way in which aid agencies share information with and listen to those affected by the disaster." A new report, Ann Kite Yo Pale or Let Them Speak, explores the role that communication and innovative use of communications technology (particularly mobile phones and web-based technology) had in the response to this double disaster. Subtitled “Best Practice and Lessons Learned in Communication with Disaster Affected Communities: Haiti 2010," the report details the study of the communications methods and practice of humanitarian organizations and communities in Haiti by researchers from infoasaid, a consortium of Internews, a private media organization, and the BBC World Service Trust, the independent international charity of the BBC.Through focus groups, interviews and a review of monitoring and evaluation records, the researchers were led to some basic conclusions which should help both communities and those who respond to disasters to better prepare themselves before the next disaster strikes. The importance of communication both with and from the affected communicates was important. Haitians were desperately in need of communication and information to receive updates, to be able to locate family members and to learn more about their situation, including the prevention and treatment of cholera. Quick communication was important since those affected could become critically ill very quickly. The Haitians stressed “the importance of communications as a process, not just the transfer of information."
Summary by Sharon Franzen |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 20 January 2012 18:32 ) |