Help Refugees Access Lifesaving Information

On behalf of Internews we would like to thank you for your support in aiding refugees to get access to information they so desperately need. Because of support of people like you have been able to launch a new news service, NewsThatMoves, with the latest information for those migrating throughout Europe.

Challenge:  Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have made a desperate choice. When faced with the option of remaining in an increasingly war-torn country versus the risks of treacherous ocean crossings and long treks through uncertain terrain, thousands have chosen the latter. From Turkey through Greece and onward through the Balkans, a lack of current, local information makes many vulnerable to kidnappers, traffickers and smugglers; others simply travel for days to find a border recently closed.

Solution: In the first few weeks we were on the ground in Greece, Internews focused on meeting basic needs for information for those crossing the ocean and landing on the beach in Lesbos without any information about where to go next or what to do. We put up maps and hired fishmonger trucks and loudspeakers to drive around the island, broadcasting information about where to register or how to access medical help in Arabic. Today, we've expanded our efforts to include a full time on-line news service, www.newsthatmoves.org, operating in four languages that directly serves the information needs of refugees in the Mediterranean and Europe.

NewsThatMoves recognizes that information and communication is as essential in a crisis as any other kind of aid or support. We believe that to be properly informed is a human right and a humanitarian principle for all people who are displaced or seeking asylum, especially in Greece and the Balkans. People need information and communication to make decisions about their futures, access essential services, and make their own voices heard.

Based on these rights and principles, we produce independent, verified information people can use. We do not provide advice, we listen to people’s questions and concerns, and respond to them with facts, articles and explanations. We provide updates on the most relevant issues, and we investigate and debunk rumors. We share verified information from all relevant sources, including humanitarian organizations, government authorities, human rights organizations, and others. And as much as possible, we provide platforms where community voices can be heard.

Feedback from our Target Audience: As part of NewsThatMoves Internews is committed to ensuring that the voices of those most affected by the crisis remain front and center of the response. In the Loop explores the concerns and perceptions of people affected by the EU refugee crisis. Internews documents online and offline feedback gathered from refugees and migrants on a daily basis. By providing analysis of this feedback, the review aims to strengthen accountability and close the feedback loop by giving voice to displaced populations. Some of the feedback received includes:

• Refugees and migrants are often unable to communicate with doctors and nurses at hospitals because of a lack of interpreting services . Some say they have been turned away from hospitals and told to come back when they have a translator. Others saw doctors but could not communicate their symptoms or understand their diagnosis.
• Refugees and migrants say they are increasingly worried about the mental health of their children as the months drag on and they remain in camps or squats. Many parents raise concerns about their own children – or other children at their site – suffering anxiety and depression, and using drugs.
• Refugees and migrants at informal sites say that volunteer site managers routinely exploit them and restrict their access to humanitarian aid. Some also say they are concerned about their personal safety because there is a lack of practical measures for protection.

Long-Term Impact: Our goal is simple - ensure access to quality information so that people can make informed decisions that keep their families safe. For minimal cost, you can help ease refugees' transition into Europe and help them connect to much needed aid and assistance.

Current, future and past issues of In the Loop can also be accessed in English, Arabic, Greek and Farsi on the News That Moves website.

Thanks so much for your support. We appreciate your compassion and we will be sure to keep you informed as the project continues. 

Links:

• In The Loop, Refugee Feedback Review

• In The Loop (PDF)