GUIDELINE 1: Track information on conflicts and natural disasters, and the potential impact on migrants
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To protect migrants, States, private sector actors, international organizations, and civil society need to understand risks and exposure to crises in regions, countries, and localities. They also need to understand the ways in which crises can affect people, including migrants, and their assets. The period before the onset of a full-scale conflict or natural disaster is a critical time to undertake efforts to protect and assist people, including migrants, and to secure essential resources and infrastructure.
Not all conflicts and natural disasters are entirely unpredictable. Conflicts may be preceded by various signs, including protests, xenophobic violence, and civil unrest. Local actors, close to the source of an impending conflict, and with the experience to interpret signs and events, may often possess the most timely and accurate information. They can be an important source of knowledge for others.
Understanding regional, national, and local natural disaster risks and overlaying this information with information on the location and characteristics of migrants can inform preparation and response efforts. As in conflict situations, local sources of knowledge may also be important. While many natural disasters occur with great immediacy, different regions, countries, and localities are prone to specific types of natural disasters. Those related to weather events often occur with some forewarning. Some are cyclical and recurrent and the warning signs will be familiar to those who have experienced them before. A number of early warning systems exist to forecast and monitor natural disasters and alert stakeholders and communities of impending crises.
Sample Practices
- Early warning systems for natural disasters adapted and tested to reach migrants in multiple languages.
- Assessments to understand the potential effects of natural disasters on migrant communities and their assets.
- Inclusion of migrant characteristics in disaster vulnerability assessments by analyzing how factors, such as immigration status, language proficiency, or gender reduce access to information, resources, or protection.
- Community-based risk assessments that engage migrants in the identification of natural disasters, vulnerability, and capacities.
- Inclusion of migrants’ presence and vulnerability in early warning and early action mechanisms.
- Structures to share information on developing civil unrest or conflict.
In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, the British Foreign Service established a hotline facility as point of contact for those concerned about friends and relatives who may be caught in the affected areas.
The Kentucky Outreach and Information Network (KOIN), initiated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is pushing preparedness responsibilities to trusted people and agencies in local communities, to informal and formal groups as well as to media.
This hand book was produced by the Government of the Republic of Korea and IOM to help migrants be better prepared in case of disasters. The Guidebook, which complements text with illustrations, is available in in the five languages mostly spoken by migrants in the country.
This hand book was produced by the Government of the Republic of Korea and IOM to help migrants be better prepared in case of disasters. The Guidebook, which complements text with illustrations, is available in in the five languages mostly spoken by migrants in the country.
The volunteers who are trying to help migrants who remain blocked by snow while trying to cross the mountains to reach France from Italy have prepared signs that now appear in Bardonecchia and Oulx, the two municipalities that have become the starting point for the crossing.
MiGuate is a special mobile application developed and deployed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide consular services and assistance to migrants in the event of a crisis.
Grupos Beta (Beta Groups) is a service by the National Institute of Migration (INM) of Mexico dedicated to the protection and defense of the human rights of migrants and are specialized in providing orientation, rescue and first aid, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
The Settling-In Programme (SIP), introduced by the Ministry of Manpower of the Singapore Government, is a 1-day orientation programme for first-time Foreing Domestic Workers to educate them on safety precautions and living in Singapore.
"Where Are We In The World" is a service of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that allows Italians temporarily abroad to report on their personal data on a voluntary basis in order to plan more quickly and precisely rescue operations.
Smartraveller is web-based service provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, whihc offers a wide range of services and information for Australians travelling abroad, including information on countries of destination, consular assistance, access to documents, etc.