The role of data and information sharing when slow-onset natural disasters and conflict collide

Abstract

The frequency and severity of natural disasters is increasing worldwide, leading to a growing number of people struggling to survive. While climate related natural disasters affect large portions of the world, communities who are already struggling to survive due to conflict, insecurity or poverty are hit the most. In fragile states, slowly unfolding natural disasters are getting more and more intertwined with conflict. In these areas, humanitarian and peacekeeping organizations have increasingly overlapping goals and scarce resources. Sharing information between humanitarian and peacekeeping organizations can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of both humanitarian response operations and peacekeeping missions, which may result in not only saving time and money but most importantly saving lives and reducing human suffering. Nevertheless, the process of information sharing between humanitarian and peacekeeping organizations is not common practice. This is a comprehensive study on the complexities of information sharing between humanitarian and peacekeeping organizations in fragile areas. It includes desk research, interviewing, modeling approaches and a qualitative case study on Mopti, Mali where the Red Cross Movement is actively fighting food insecurity and Dutch peacekeepers are contributing to the UN peacekeeping mission called MINUSMA.