On the Nature of Information Management in Complex and Natural Disasters

The purpose of this paper is to present reflections on the nature of information management (IM) and its role and function to support coordination in one of the largest humanitarian crises of our time, the Syria crisis. Starting from general principles for humanitarian information management, we analyze the challenges that information managers face in conflict situations, when information is – more than anywhere else – a source of power and influence. This work outlines the interdependence of advocacy and operational information management, the sensitivity of information, and barriers to information sharing. The results are complex and highly interlaced information and coordination structures that remain unpredictable for many partners. Contrarily, natural disasters – such as Typhoon Haiyan – are dominated by high levels of uncertainty; political interests are less pronounced. An initial comparison is made between the resulting IM challenges for natural and complex disasters.