IFRC WARNS HARMFUL INFORMATION IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK DURING CRISES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Harmful information is undermining life-saving humanitarian efforts at a time when disasters are affecting a growing number of people more frequently, according to the World Disasters Report 2026 by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The report, released on March 5, warned that harmful information and dehumanising narratives are increasingly undermining trust, putting the lives of humanitarian workers and communities at risk.

The INFORM Severity Index reported that between 2020 and 2024, disasters affected nearly 700 million people, caused more than 105 million displacements, and claimed over 270,000 lives, with the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance more than doubling.

Citing several global crises, including during the floods in Valencia, Spain, the report said false narratives online accused the Spanish Red Cross of diverting aid to migrants, fuelling xenophobic attacks on volunteers.

While in South Sudan, rumours that humanitarian agencies were distributing poisoned food caused people to avoid life-saving aid, which had led to threats against local Red Cross staff, temporarily disrupting operations.

“In polarised and politically charged contexts, humanitarian principles such as neutrality and impartiality are increasingly misunderstood, misrepresented or deliberately attacked online,” IFRC said in a statement marking the release of the report, emphasising that trust has become one of the most critical and fragile assets in humanitarian action.

Quoting its Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, the IFRC stressed that information is as essential as food, water and shelter.

“But when information is false, misleading or deliberately manipulated, it can deepen fear, obstruct humanitarian access and cost lives,” he said.

The report highlights that around 94 per cent of disasters are managed by national authorities and local communities without international assistance.

However, while volunteers, local leaders and community media are often the most trusted messengers, they operate in increasingly hostile and polarised information environments.

The World Disasters Report 2026 also called on governments, technology companies, humanitarian agencies, communities and local actors to recognise that trustworthy information is a matter of life and death.

The report recommended that decision makers adopt a comprehensive approach when dealing with such crises, including prioritising authoritative information from trusted humanitarian, health, and local actors in crisis contexts.

It also urged supporting digital and media literacy, participating in rumour tracking, and ensuring local perspectives shape responses to safeguard access and trust.

“Without trust, people are less likely to prepare, seek help or follow life-saving guidance; with it, communities act together, absorb shocks and recover more effectively. Maintaining trust is not optional – it is a humanitarian necessity,” Chapagain added.

-- BERNAMA