"This report explores the importance of a robust Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) in Nigeria and the need for effective communication to ameliorate the loss and damage caused by flooding. Following Nigeria’s Floods of 2022, which resulted in over 600 lives lost, 3000 injured, 300 thousand hectare
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s of farmlands wiped out and 200,000 houses damaged, and two million people displaced across 20 states in Nigeria, as reported by Premium Times, it is imperative that focus be given to strategies to adapt and prepare for future flood events which are expected to be worse in order to limit the damage caused. However, Nigeria has faced challenges in effectively communicating and preventing the impacts of floods due to poor FEWS communication. The article emphasizes that an early warning system is crucial for building resilience and reducing the impacts of climate-related disasters. By informing citizens about potential and imminent extreme events, governments and stakeholders can save lives, protect infrastructure, and support long-term sustainability. However, developing countries like Nigeria face difficulties in implementing and communicating FEWS due to technical limitations and insufficient infrastructure [...] To address these challenges, the article proposes framing FEWS communication as political communication in Nigeria. It suggests involving popular politicians as information bearers across states and local governments, who can act as climate champions and effectively disseminate early warning messages to the public. This approach leverages the popularity and influence of political figures to enhance FEWS communication and increase climate resilience among the population." (Forward, page 3)
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"Despite the strides made towards strengthening two-way communication and dialogue in the regional response to the Sudan crisis, there remain critical gaps inhibiting the effectiveness of collective efforts. The Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the Regional Refugee Response Plan should allocate
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time, priority and resources to communication and engagement approaches which ensure investment in key communication, community engagement and accountability (CCEA) activities. This should include integrated CCEA activities in sectoral interventions and those led by local and diaspora humanitarian action. The information and engagement ecosystem is in constant flux in Sudan and neighbouring countries and maintaining a solid communications base requires a range of skills and analysis. As a priority for protection, forward planning must consider the skills needed." Key takeaways)
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"In recent years, major natural disasters and public safety accidents have frequently occurred worldwide. In order to deal with various disasters and accidents using rapidly deployable, reliable, efficient, and stable emergency communication networks, all countries in the world are strengthening and
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improving emergency communication network construction and related technology research. Motivated by these situations, in this paper, we provide a state-of-the-art survey of the current situation and development of emergency communication networks. In this detailed investigation, our primary focus is the extensive discussion of emergency communication network technology, including satellite networks, ad hoc networks, cellular networks, and wireless private networks. Then, we explore and analyze the networks currently applied in emergency rescue, such as the 370M narrowband private network, broadband cluster network, and 5G constellation plan. We propose a broadband-narrowband integrated emergency communication network to provide an effective solution for visual dispatch of emergency rescue services. The main findings derived from the comprehensive survey on the emergency communication network are then summarized, and possible research challenges are noted. Lastly, we complete this survey by shedding new light on future directions for the emergency communication network. In the future, the emergency network will develop in the direction of intelligence, integration, popularization, and lower cost, and spaceair-ground-sea integrated networks. This survey provides a reference basis for the construction of networks to mitigate major natural disasters and public safety accidents." (Abstract)
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"Gaza has experienced five near-total communications blackouts since since 7 October 2023.1 People cannot access critical information. They cannot reach loved ones. Aid agencies cannot contact staff or coordinate assistance. Media coverage and documentation is further restricted." (Page 1)
"The objective of this paper is to highlight the importance of early warning dissemination and communication, one of the four pillars of multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), which ITU is leading with the newly defined executive action plan for the Early Warnings for All initiative. The key ob
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jective of the paper is to point to the opportunities offered by the growing availability and reach of communication channels, in particular mobile (cellular) networks and services, which make it possible to reach communities at risk, warn about an imminent disaster and provide people with actionable advice. The paper will highlight some key advantages of an effective emergency warning system using mobile networks. It proposes the use of cell broadcast as a minimum national early warning system. New regulations in Europe are examined to show how regulatory measures can help speed up the adoption process. An overview of legislative approaches on MHEWS adopted by 33 countries is given in the Annex, with examples of regulatory measures. It is argued that the availability, adoption, and usage of mobile network services is a critical component for the successful implementation of the ambitious Early Warnings for All initiative. The intention is to initiate discussions and drive coordination between different stakeholders: government policy-makers in emergency management, hydrometeorology and telecommunication; mobile network operators; international organizations; community organizations; and donors of international humanitarian funding. Finally, we highlight the contribution that ITU can make to capitalize on the opportunities of technology and strengthen the capacity of governments to implement and use nationwide alerting systems to save lives." (Page 1)
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"Based on a 5-year study, involving over 150 in-depth interviews, this book examines the political, economic and social forces that sustain and influence humanitarian journalists. The authors argue that – by amplifying marginalised voices and providing critical, in-depth explanations of neglected
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crises – these journalists show us that another kind of humanitarian journalism is possible. However, the authors also reveal the heavy price these reporters pay for deviating from conventional journalistic norms. Their peripheral position at the ‘boundary zone’ between the journalistic and humanitarian fields means that a humanitarian journalist’s job is often precarious – with direct implications for their work, especially as ‘watchdogs’ for the aid sector. As a result, they urgently need more support if they are to continue to do this work and promote more effective and accountable humanitarian action." (Publisher description)
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"[...] in popular imagination and policy Indigenous peoples often appear to be caricatured and misrepresented, for instance through tropes of Indigenous peoples as custodians of the environment or especially vulnerable to environmental change. These framings matter because they can result in disaste
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r management policies and practices that do not capture Indigenous peoples' complex realities. However, these framings have not been analysed in the context of disasters. In this article, we aim to better understand these framings through a critical discourse analysis of how Indigenous peoples in disasters are represented in the expert news media. We identify five discourses, including a dominant one of disasters as natural phenomena to be addressed through humanitarianism and technocratic interventions. Such discourses render Indigenous peoples helpless, depoliticize disasters and are justified by framing governments and NGOs as caring for Indigenous peoples. However, we also identify competing discourses that focus on systems of oppression and self-determination in disaster management. These discourse recognise disasters as political and include discussion of the role of colonialism in disaster creation. As care emerged as a means through which intervention was justified, we conclude by asking questions of who is cared for/about in disasters and how that care is performed". (Abstract)
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"Our 2022 report shows that all of the most under-reported crises are now in Africa. Hunger is rampant and spreading, particularly in East Africa where one of the worst droughts in living memory is causing over 21 million people to face life-threatening hunger. Water becomes scarcer every day, crops
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are failing, livestock are dying. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, with 150 million more women than men going hungry in 2021 around the world. Yet media attention on countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Chad fall into the shadows of the news headlines. This year, there have been more than fifty times the number of media articles written about the new iPhone 14 (95,118) than the millions of people in need of life-saving humanitarian aid right now due to extreme drought in Angola (1,847) – the crisis which received the least media attention in 2022." (Introduction, page 3)
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"BBC Media Action has been using mass media to help audiences recognise risks and keep safe from explosive ordnance (EO), which is widespread across Afghanistan following years of conflict. We conducted a panel study in 10 most affected provinces to evaluate the impact of our programme. We found tha
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t increased exposure to our content, which reached 5.4 million Afghans, was linked to increased ability to identify explosive ordnance risks; improved knowledge of what to do to keep safe; and increased discussion with others." (Introduction)
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