Accurate data is pivotal to identifying and responding to the needs of those impacted by a variety of shocks, including violent conflicts, environmental disasters, epidemics, and other life-threatening emergencies. By gathering and processing personal, public, and geographic data, aid organizations, humanitarian workers and other relevant actors are able to not only deploy more targeted responses to ongoing crises, but also develop risk reduction strategies based on previously identified patterns. Despite its crucial role in identifying and assessing crisis situations —if mishandled— data can also lead to serious negative outcomes for already vulnerable groups. For instance, in 2021 Human Rights Watch reported that the Government of Myanmar accessed private information on Rohingya refugees (including biometric data) four years after UNHCR’s creation of a detailed database for this persecuted population. It is therefore imperative that organizations are prepared to responsibly and ethically manage their data collection and assessment methods in order to prevent a variety of risks that may arise from such mismanagement. Nevertheless, there is a growing need for data in the humanitarian sector, as the lack of precise information may result in inequitable and imprecise responses that are likewise harmful to the crisis-affected populations.

Using data for humanitarian emergencies

In terms of how traditional and non-traditional data has been used to assist in humanitarian crises, there are several examples that show just how valuable this information is to first responders and those working to develop assistance strategies. Several organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, the United Nations Children’s Fund, Crisis Ready and OCHA are actively working towards gathering and making available accurate and timely information to manage different types of crises. Some examples include OCHA’s Humanitarian Data Exchange portal; the Relief Web to provide 24-hour coverage of different crises to help guide the international aid community; the Migration Portal from the International Organization for Migration Global Migration Data Analysis Center which provided timely, comprehensive migration statistics globally.; and the Digital Humanitarian Network, which supports humanitarian responses through digital networks. UNHCR also runs the Operational Data Portal (ODP), which was created in 2011 to collect information and data to help facilitate coordination during refugee emergencies. This portal contains information on several different refugee crises, including the current situation unfolding in Ukraine, and maps daily refugee influxes towards destination countries. In addition to the valuable work of these large organizations, there have been several instances where different actors have created very useful crisis response tools. One key example was the creation of Ushahidi, a non-profit that used crowdsourcing to develop an interactive mapping platform to plot outbreaks of violence following the 2008 Kenyan presidential election. It was also used after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, allowing first responders to locate victims much more quickly with the information it provided. UN Global Pulse and UNCHR Innovation Service also conducted a project using Twitter data to understand the utility of data-driven evidence into decision-making processes, particularly in developing policies to address xenophobia, discrimination and racism towards migrants and refugees in Europe after 2015.

Using digital technology for humanitarian emergencies

Additionally, there are a myriad of digital technologies, including mobile applications, chatbots, unmanned aerial vehicles and biometrics, that can be leveraged to aid communities affected by humanitarian crises. For example, WFP (together with the Government of Jordan, Mastercard, UNHCR, Cairo Amman Bank and IrisGuard Inc.) introduced iris scan payments in Jordan’s Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps through the Building Blocks program, which enabled 1.5 million Syrian refugees to use digital money to buy food and access basic services with an eye scan. The WFP also used mVAM to set up an SMS survey in 2013 to collect data on the effects of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, despite movement restrictions on humanitarian staff. Using surveys reduced data collection costs by 50% versus face-to-face interviews. Another example is the Safety Check Service, offered by Meta, which provides user-generated data on who is in danger after a natural or humanitarian disaster. The Missing Maps initiative, a collective of different organizations and volunteers, was key in helping the International Committee of the Red Cross in providing assistance to the over 230,000 people affected by the flooding in Malawi in 2015 who were located in unmapped areas of the country. 

Risks in using data and digital technology with at-risk populations

Although these initiatives and projects have been tremendously helpful in dealing with humanitarian emergencies, they also pose risks that can further endanger already vulnerable populations. Particularly in the case of refugee emergencies, data with too much visibility can compromise existing legal rights and procedural guarantees that are necessary to safeguard their lives. In such cases, the organizations involved in collecting and using this type of data have the responsibility to ensure that these risks are mitigated. Regarding the currently unfolding Ukrainian crisis, Google Maps made the decision to stop providing live traffic data in order to protect Ukrainian civilians who have not fled the country. These actions demonstrate the importance of being aware of the ethical and safety concerns of using new technologies during humanitarian emergencies. 

Join us in this edition of Links We Like as we explore the promise of new technologies to aid in the response to humanitarian crises, as well as the ethical concerns and risks that accompany the use of these technologies.