Humanitarian Communications

Humanitarian communication is the collection and dissemination of critical, time sensitive, lifesaving information among crisis affected populations and humanitarian agencies, to enable a more effective response to emergencies. IOM’s Humanitarian Communications programme has been working in Pakistan since 2009 and now covers 30 districts all over the country. Since its inception the programme has facilitated the repatriation of displaced population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) through providing information about return processes and available humanitarian aid to the affected population. The programme is now also coordinating, two-way information sharing and feedback between government counterparts, humanitarian partners and affected population to facilitate dignified, voluntary returns of undocumented Afghans residing in Pakistan.

WHEN

Humanitarian Communications (HComms) combines effective reporting and dissemination techniques to provide an information sharing mechanism to keep the affected populations, the humanitarian community and other concerned governmental and non-governmental institutions abreast of all developments in situations of crisis such as natural disasters, conflict and complex emergencies.

HOW

IOM’s Humanitarian Communications is the first concerted and consolidated effort of its kind in Pakistan to provide rapid, comprehensive and multi-medium information service for the disaster and conflict-affected populations in Pakistan. Information is disseminated through print and electronic media, awareness raising sessions among community, distribution of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials and through the Humanitarian Call Center (HCC) serving as a helpline. More recently IOM has also provided valuable primary data to government and humanitarian counter parts through surveys and real time flow monitoring at Pakistan Afghan border to facilitate effective migration management. For details of IOM’s Hcomms products and services please see: Product and Services

WHERE