News & Events
Palestinian Diaspora Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank
In response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza following recent escalations since October 2023, DEMAC - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination is conducting an in-depth review of the Palestinian diaspora’s humanitarian response. This review, to be published in November 2024, will provide valuable insights into the scope, impact, and organizational strategies of diaspora-led emergency responses and advocacy efforts. We invite you to join our upcoming online meeting where we will introduce our initial findings about Palestinian diaspora humanitarian response across the globe, and create space for diaspora members to discuss challenges and opportunities. Meeting: Palestinian Diaspora Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank Time: November 18th, 15:00 (UTC)Location: Zoom This meeting will provide an opportunity to connect with others involved in diaspora humanitarian work, exchange perspectives, and learn about the priorities of key actors. Please feel free to share this invite within your network and with other representatives of Palestinian diaspora organizations and local partners. For a closer look at our work, check out our 2023 Real-Time Review on diaspora humanitarian engagement in Northwest Syria, and visit our LinkedIn and this video to learn more about DEMAC.
Launch: Mixed Migration Review 2024
This year’s Mixed Migration Review (MMR) dives into the politics of mixed migration and the salience of migration issues in politics. In 2024, nearly half of the world’s population across 80+ countries will have headed to the polls, including some of the most powerful, populous, and fragile countries. How is migration instrumentalized both domestically and internationally? In what ways do rising populist movements rely on maintaining migration as a perceived threat? What role does modern media play in shaping migration narratives? How do governments balance restricting asylum and migration with the growing demand for migrant labour? Through interviews with global and regional thinkers, expert essays, thematic snapshots, and personal migrant stories, the 2024 MMR addresses these and other critical issues. Join us for the virtual launch to dive into these discussions and more!
Filling Key Gaps in Emergency Response: Strengths and Challenges of Somali Diaspora
DEMAC launches a New Report on "Diaspora Humanitarian Engagement in Somalia".
CURRENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
FEATURED DIASPORA
Palestinian Diaspora Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank
In response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza following recent escalations since October 2023, DEMAC - Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination is conducting an in-depth review of the Palestinian diaspora’s humanitarian response. This review, to be published in November 2024, will provide valuable insights into the scope, impact, and organizational strategies of diaspora-led emergency responses and advocacy efforts. We invite you to join our upcoming online meeting where we will introduce our initial findings about Palestinian diaspora humanitarian response across the globe, and create space for diaspora members to discuss challenges and opportunities. Meeting: Palestinian Diaspora Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank Time: November 18th, 15:00 (UTC)Location: Zoom This meeting will provide an opportunity to connect with others involved in diaspora humanitarian work, exchange perspectives, and learn about the priorities of key actors. Please feel free to share this invite within your network and with other representatives of Palestinian diaspora organizations and local partners. For a closer look at our work, check out our 2023 Real-Time Review on diaspora humanitarian engagement in Northwest Syria, and visit our LinkedIn and this video to learn more about DEMAC.
How an earthquake unites the Caribbean Diaspora
Ten years ago, when Dr. Magalie Emile-Backer co-founded the diaspora organization HRA – Haiti Renewal Alliance in the US, she had not imagined the scale of disaster her country of birth would be facing. Originally established as a platform to mobilise diaspora skills and resources for development and entrepreneurship in Haiti, the organization has quickly adapted their operations to humanitarian relief, following emergencies such as the 2021 earthquake.When history strikes againA decade ago, an earthquake struck just outside Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.On Saturday August 14, 2021, the island was hit again, by a temblor two times larger than the one in 2010. It took only 30 seconds for this 7.2 magnitude earthquake to devastate the Southwest Region of Haiti. Latest figures estimate that 800,000 people, including 340,000 children, have been affected by the earthquake which has left more than 2,200 dead and over 12,000 injured.The earthquake could not have come at a worst time for Haiti, which is still reeling from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021. Combined with escalating gang violence this has resulted in the internal displacement of around 19,000 Haitians, while 4.4 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance prior to the earthquake, half of them children. Coordinating disaster response across an umbrella HRA activated its Haitian Diaspora Emergency Response Unit (HDERU) via www.onediaspora.org shortly after the earthquake and managed to streamline humanitarian response efforts. First, it launched a diaspora fundraising campaign in partnership with its Haitian diaspora platform www.onediaspora.org, where within few weeks, more than 60 diaspora groups raised 1.5 million USD through a collective fundraiser.Secondly, Haiti Renewal Alliance oversaw and coordinated the relief efforts of members in the US as an umbrella organization. They organized regular online member meetings to discuss needs on the ground in Haiti and aligned their humanitarian activities. Instant sharing of information helped to overcome logistical barriers and HRA could identify and fill gaps in providing aid to affected, local communities.Some numbers & facts: More than 60 diaspora groups raised 1.5 million USD. Over 200 organizations, government officials and health care workers participated in situational briefings HRA sourced local supplies by connecting local companies with the Haitian government’s needs assessment report team. HRA could deliver and distribute 2000 units of 5 gallons water, 500 tents and tarps, and containers filled with medical and hygiene supplies towards affected Haitian communities. This was only possible, because members of HRA were agile and utilized relationships with local civil society groups. In addition, they coordinated with institutional partners like USAID to mobilize additional diaspora financial resources and expertise. Building back better togetherBy September 30 2021, HRA deactivated its Haitian Diaspora Emergency Response Unit (HDERU). However, relief and long-term recovery efforts will continue for affected people via www.onediaspora.org. OneDiaspora's mission is to maximize support of Haiti’s private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, to ensure the local economy is not disrupted.Like HRA, several diaspora organizations involved in humanitarian response engage in humanitarian action before, during and after crises occur, meaning that they can draw on networks and expertise to identify needs, mobilize resources and respond to crises across the so called humanitarian-development nexus. This agility ensures that diaspora's often can shift relatively easily from a development to a humanitarian focus (or vice versa). A quality, which not only helps to save lives immediately, but ensures a long-term engagement in building back a country together. Photo Credit: Heater Suggitt, Bill Hamway Goha & Zach Vessel on unsplash.com
Building A Better Response: New E-Learning Platform
The new Building A Better Response (BBR) e-learning platform is here! Launched in 2022, the platform features updated learning modules, new avatars, an updated color palette, and new case study assessments. Humanitarians in focus Since 2012, BBR has been used as an onboarding tool for new humanitarian professions across a range of local and international NGOs. BBR's key objectives are to train new humanitarian actors and to refresh the knowledge of experienced humanitarian actors. BBR has improved knowledge of the humanitarian system for close to 90,000 learners based in 224 countries and territories around the world. Available in several languages The course is available in 4 languages: English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Voiceover options are also available in Polish and Ukrainian. Transcript translations are available in Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Dari, and Urdu. Who is behind the E-Learning Platform Funded by the US Agency for International Development Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, the project is being implemented through a consortium that brings together a combination of operational and technical expertise, spearheaded by International Medical Corps in collaboration with Concern Worldwide and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Enroll HERE and contribute to a better response in humanitarian assistance
Powerful flood response by Pakistan's diaspora
Fighting the water crisis with local partners on the ground
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