Practices by Stakeholder 2

Type of Practices by Stakeholder: 
Host States
Description: 

Mapping migrants’ exposure to natural disasters

Understanding the potential impacts of natural disasters on communities and their resources, including migrant communities and their assets, contributes to effective, targeted preparedness. The collection and analysis of information on migrants’ exposure to natural disasters may be based on:

  • Compilations of existing sources of data on exposure to natural disasters, including maps, disaster-loss databases, risk atlases, and data on migrants’ presence, including immigration records and data from employers, recruiters, placement agencies, and tour operators;
  • Multi-level analyses, that encompass nation-wide distribution and local-level assessments, in particular in high immigration areas;
  • Consideration of long-term, seasonal, weekly, and daily trends as a key element of migrants’ presence and distribution;
  • Collaboration among relevant actors, including disaster management, immigration, and consular authorities.

Migrant characteristics in natural disaster vulnerability assessments

To understand potential impacts of natural disasters on migrants, risk assessments should capture characteristics of migrants that result in vulnerability in the face of such crises. This includes:

  • Collecting and analyzing past natural disaster losses to identify patterns of vulnerability in high immigration, disaster-affected communities;
  • Integrating data on language proficiency, immigration status, communication avenues, local networks, and the ways migrants respond to emergencies into vulnerability and risk assessment tools and analyzing whether and how these factors reduce access to information, resources, or protection during disasters.

Community-based risk assessments

At-risk populations, including migrants, can help produce assessments of natural disaster risk and should be involved in the identification of risks, vulnerability, and capacities. Community-based processes to collect and compile relevant information are low-cost, produce a detailed understanding of local patterns, and promote awareness of risks within communities. Such processes could include:

  • Engaging migrants or migrant representatives to assess natural disaster risk and making sure they understand and support the purpose of the exercise;
  • Fostering widespread dialogue, in particular with migrants and other minorities, who might be marginalized;
  • Taking stock of and leveraging local capacities relevant for reducing risks;
  • Respecting community views in the definition of priorities and follow-up actions;
  • Respecting diversity of language, culture, and communication methods among migrants.

Incorporation of migrant observations in crisis monitoring

In setting up monitoring and forecasting systems, stakeholders can incorporate migrant community-based observations. To incorporate migrant information, States may:

  • Reach out to migrant communities to explain early warning systems and solicit their cooperation;
  • Provide training on recognizing indicators that are relevant to early warning of natural disasters and conflicts, particularly indicators on which migrants may be particularly knowledgeable (e.g., increases in violent attacks against minorities);
  • Enable migrants to provide early warning information in their own language.

Early warning and alert systems for natural disasters adapted to reach migrants

Early warning systems in host States should be adapted to overcome migrants’ conditions of vulnerability, such as limited language capabilities, lack of trust for authorities, differences in risk awareness and perceptions, and differences in access to media and communication channels. To adapt early warning systems, States could:

  • Translate warnings into languages spoken by migrants through automated translation or by using bilingual workers or rosters of translators;
  • Modify warnings to use clear, simple language, avoiding terms and idioms migrants may not understand, and providing specific information on how migrants can access assistance and services;
  • Use media and communication channels that are used and accessed by migrants, including State of origin sources;
  • Disseminate and validate warnings locally, including through door-to-door visits or confirmation of warnings by actors whom migrants trust.