"Serious communication gaps between the humanitarian sector and refugees in Dadaab, Kenya, are increasing refugee suffering and putting lives at risk. There are clear indications that these information gaps are hampering the aid response and that despite important efforts from individual agencies, c
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urrent communication strategies for affected communities are not working as effectively as they could, and critical coordination needs to be improved. These are the clear indications from the joint Communications Needs Assessment led by Internews in collaboration with Star FM and Radio Ergo/IMS and with support from NRC. The assessment included an extensive survey of more than 600 refugees in all three of Dadaab’s camps. Overall results from the survey show that large numbers of refugees don’t have the information they need to access basic aid: More than 70% of newly-arrived refugees say they lack information on how to register for aid and similar numbers say they need information on how to locate missing family members. High figures are also recorded for lack of information on how to access health, shelter, how to communicate with family outside the camps and more." (Executive summary, page 4)
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"Information dissemination is constrained by political sensitivity, the vulnerability of public information campaigns to manipulation, the difficulties of ensuring accurate information flow and the logistical impediments of conveying information across Darfur. For these reasons, existing initiatives
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have been confined to ‘safe’ information – largely related to humanitarian programmes – using existing community structures and word of mouth. A few efforts have been made to incorporate drama, public address systems and illustrations instead of printed information. Mass information campaigns have attempted to reach a broader audience but the methods used are in need of improvement. The major shortfalls are the lack of outreach work by NGOs, an over-reliance on dissemination through sheiks, the lack of explanation as to the long-term nature of protection work, inadequate dissemination of agreements on and principles of voluntary return, the absence of impartial and trusted internal media and a platform on which IDPs can discuss their views and concerns. With regard to safety and security, the situation remains too precarious to engage in informing IDPs on secure areas. In respect of all other categories of information, there are sizeable obstacles to dissemination but it should be possible to circumvent them. The need to do this has been recognised. Darfuris and the humanitarian community need a medium of mass communication through which pressing issues can be dealt with. Existing word of mouth methods can be improved and supported but there will be no substitute for a public platform for discussion and dissemination." (Conclusion)
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