Still left in the dark? How People in Emergencies Use Communication to Survive – And How Humanitarian Agencies Can Help

In 2008, a BBC World Service Trust policy briefi ng argued that people affected by earthquakes, fl oods or other emergencies often lacked the information they needed to survive and that this only added to their stress and anxiety. Much has changed since 2008. Thanks to the efforts of several humanitarian and media support NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), the report helped to galvanise momentum across the humanitarian sector to prioritise communication with the populations it serves. It argues that while many humanitarian agencies continue to see communication as something that is done to raise money or boost the profile of their disaster relief efforts, the sector is, increasingly, seeing the need for a clear strategic focus that responds to the information and communication needs of those affected by disaster.