Philippines - IOM’s massive humanitarian aid operation in the wake of typhoon Haiyan will be underpinned by an equally large effort to put the affected population in charge of ensuring the appropriateness and effectiveness of aid received.

Working with the Philippine government’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other partners, IOM is creating a Communications With Communities (CwC) network integrating local journalists, SMS, call centres, social and traditional media. The project targets 500,000 people in displaced centres and host communities, with a strong emphasis on women and children.

An innovative response is required as IOM’s data shows that over 70 per cent of the affected populations are still without mobile phone connections (due to a number of factors, including damage to the infrastructure, poverty and lack of electricity).  Print and TV services are severely impacted, and radio is only operating at 50 per cent capacity.

“One of the most difficult challenges we face in post-disaster situations is frustration among affected communities,” explains Leonard Doyle, IOM’s head of online communications, who is leading the CwC drive. “If they don’t understand what decisions are being taken on their behalf, and don’t feel involved, then rumours and distortions kick in, which in the worst case scenario can lead to violence.”

IOM plans to extend DSWD’s national hotline service to include a call centre which will allow voice and SMS communications with affected populations. The call centre will ensure immediate and 24/7 response in life-threatening and other urgent cases.

Women and children are particularly vulnerable at times of mass displacement and when homes are lost, for a host of reasons, and the improved communications mechanisms are also designed to help mitigate against sexual and gender-based violence.

It will also provide a platform for information on human trafficking, which is a very real danger post-Haiyan. IOM’s Migrations Outflow Desks, co-managed by DSWD and UNHCR estimate that up to 5,000 people are leaving the disaster-affected areas, bound for major urban centres where they can easily fall victim to sexual or other forms of abuse.

IOM and the DSWD are the lead agencies of Camp Coordination and Camp Management, meaning they are in charge of the smooth functioning of areas where large numbers of people are sheltering. “Our community-based journalists will ensure that all affected populations – be they in shelters, living with families, or the host communities themselves – receive the best and timeliest information, in ways that respect local cultural contexts,” says IOM’s Doyle.

The project will function in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Western Samar.

For more information please contact

Romina Santa Clara
IOM Philippines
Email: rstaclara@iom.int
Tel. +63919 8072798