Using open data to shape humanitarian action
Publication Date/Time
2024-10-17T09:00:00+00:00
10 years of the INFORM Index: Shared open data for managing crises
and disasters
Humanitarian data
[https://centre.humdata.org/the-state-of-open-humanitarian-data-2024/]
encompasses a wide array of information collected to understand the
needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises, the crisis
context and the necessary response. It includes, for example,
demographic details, health statistics, geospatial information, damage
assessments and response metrics. This data plays a critical role in
identifying needs, allocating resources, coordinating efforts,
monitoring and evaluating interventions and advocating for affected
populations. 

In a world facing increasingly complex crises – ranging from
conflicts and climate issues to economic instability – the
reliance on humanitarian aid is growing. The European Union (EU) is
one of the leading global donors of humanitarian aid, reflecting its
commitment to solidarity with affected populations. Explore our
previous data story
[https://data.europa.eu/en/publications/datastories/using-open-data-explore-belgiums-priorities-council-european-union]
for more insights on EU humanitarian aid. The EU’s assistance not
only provides immediate relief but also contributes to stabilising
regions, supporting development and addressing the root causes of
conflict and migration. 

Access to high-quality humanitarian open data is fundamental to the
effective disbursement of EU aid. This data is crucial for assessing
the impact of current crises and forecasting future developments. The
European Commission, through its Joint Research Centre and the
Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
Operations
[https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/index_en]
(ECHO), exemplifies the integration of data-driven insights into
humanitarian actions. A key tool in this effort is INFORM
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/], a global, open-source
risk-assessment platform that supports decision-making on humanitarian
crises and disasters. INFORM includes data on 191 countries, drawing
on contributions from a broad spectrum of organisations, including
humanitarian, development and technical partners. This collaboration
enables the evidence-based allocation of humanitarian aid and the
development of integrated strategies for disaster risk and crisis
management. 

This data story will explore three key components of the INFORM
database: the Severity Index
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Severity], the
Risk Index [https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Risk]
and the Climate Change Risk Index
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Climate-Change].
The objective is to illustrate how open data can inform and enhance
various aspects of humanitarian interventions. 

THE INFORM SEVERITY INDEX 

The INFORM Severity Index compiles information from various credible,
publicly available sources, including governments, UN agencies and
other multilateral organisations. Its primary objective is to measure
and compare the severity of humanitarian crises and disasters globally
on an ongoing and up-to-date basis. This open data initiative aims to
systematically communicate the current status of crises in an
objective and comprehensible manner to enhance decision-making
processes. Since 2016, the Severity Index has helped develop a shared
understanding of crisis severity, ensuring that all those affected
receive the help they need. 

Figure 1 illustrates the ongoing humanitarian crises worldwide,
driven by factors such as sociopolitical and geopolitical issues and
natural disasters. Conflicts and displacements are the most widespread
crises, especially across Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia,
where the severity of such crises is particularly high. Cyclones and
earthquakes, while significant, tend to be more localised in their
impact. Droughts, food security challenges and floods predominantly
affect South America, Africa and Asia. 

Displacement is a primary concern for the EU, particularly in southern
European countries like Greece, Spain and Italy, which are impacted by
mixed migration flows and regional crises along the Mediterranean
routes. Eastern European countries are currently particularly affected
by displacement resulting from Russia’s war of aggression against
Ukraine, with Poland being the most impacted, followed by Czechia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria. This concentration of severity
highlights the significant humanitarian burden in these countries. For
a more detailed analysis of the different global crisis drivers, you
can explore the specific maps and data here
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index]. 
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20240920_Severity%20Index.png]
_FIGURE 1: OVERVIEW OF THE SEVERITY OF CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISES
WORLDWIDE ACCORDING TO THE INFORM SEVERITY INDEX (_source:_
__data.europa.eu_
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/dbd3d06b-8845-4e6d-9715-43de891cc9a6?locale=en]_,
__European Commission_
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/]_)_ 

__ 

THE INFORM RISK INDEX 

The INFORM Risk Index identifies where and why crises might occur,
helping to reduce risk, build resilience and improve preparedness for
disasters. It uses 80 different indicators to measure natural and
human hazards, people’s vulnerability and socioeconomic exposure and
the resources available to help populations cope. By creating a risk
profile for each country, the index provides data-based evidence on
whether a crisis might require international assistance, thereby
improving the coordination of responses and aid efforts. 

Figure 2 offers an overview of the probability of crises breaking
out. The map highlights regions in Africa and the Middle East as
having very high risks of crises requiring international intervention.
Within the EU, the risk levels are generally low to very low, with
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and Romania showing the highest risk levels.
In contrast, Luxembourg, Denmark and Finland rank lowest, indicating a
minimal likelihood of requiring international assistance. 

This variation within the EU and among countries in general is
influenced by three main sets of factors: 

	* human or natural hazards and level of exposure (e.g. some countries
may face higher risks due to their proximity to conflict zones and
migration routes or may be more vulnerable to climate change risks due
to their geographical position); 
	* the vulnerability of population groups; 
	* the country’s coping capacity, which includes factors such as
financial resources and existing infrastructure for crisis
management. 

Exploring these underlying factors can provide valuable insights for
targeted risk-reduction strategies. 

[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20240920_Risk%20Index.png]
_FIGURE 2: OVERVIEW OF THE RISK OF CRISES REQUIRING INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE (_source:_ __data.europa.eu_
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/fea4755d-1728-464a-bb57-48eb351563c4?locale=en]_,
__European Commission_
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/]_)_ 

__ 

THE INFORM CLIMATE CHANGE RISK INDEX 

The INFORM Climate Change Risk Index integrates climate and
socioeconomic projections to assess how risks evolve under various
emission and population scenarios. The analysis combines
representative concentration pathways, which outline future
atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, with shared socioeconomic
pathways, which depict potential socioeconomic changes over the coming
century. This approach evaluates projections at multiple points in
time (2022, 2050 and 2080) to determine the change in risk and the
‘vulnerability gap’ – the additional coping capacity a country
needs to maintain its current risk level. The goal is to support
decision-making by highlighting the risks of climate-amplified hazards
and identifying how improved vulnerability management can mitigate
these risks. 

Figure 3 presents the change in risk of exposure to environmental
hazards for the EU between 2022 and 2050 under a pessimistic scenario.
This scenario envisions relatively low income growth, minimal
investments in human capital, stagnation or decline in population in
countries with a low birth rate, limited migration and slow
urbanisation. Under these conditions, droughts emerge as a significant
climate risk, impacting the entire EU, and particularly southern
Europe. Epidemics, such as malaria and dengue, are also a growing
concern, especially in central and southern EU countries, while Nordic
countries are less likely to be affected. The coastal flooding risk
varies across the EU, with some eastern European regions less
impacted. Finally, flooding due to rain poses substantial risks in
countries like Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and, to a
lesser degree, Finland. These insights help identify where targeted
efforts are needed to mitigate future risks. 

For a deeper exploration of other climate scenarios, continue
exploring here
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Climate-Change]. 

[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20240920_Climate%20Change_Risk%20Index.png]
_FIGURE 3: OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE RISKS INFLUENCING HUMANITARIAN CRISES
IN THE EU UNDER A PESSIMISTIC SCENARIO (2022–2050) (_source:_
__European Commission_
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/]_)_ 

 

CONCLUSION 

In a world where humanitarian crises are increasingly complex and
interconnected, the ability to make informed decisions is more
critical than ever. Open data plays a pivotal role in this process by
shedding light on the severity of ongoing crises, the risks of future
disasters and the potential impacts of climate change. Through tools
like the INFORM Severity Index, Risk Index and Climate Change Risk
Index, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we
face and more effectively respond to them. 

By leveraging these insights, the EU and other global actors can
target their humanitarian aid where it is needed most, anticipate
future risks and develop strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate
change. The power of open data lies not only in its ability to inform
but also in its capacity to drive proactive and preventative
measures. 

Explore the INFORM Index
[https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/] further to discover how
open data continues to shape humanitarian action. Stay connected with
us for more data stories, webinars and updates by subscribing to our
newsletter [https://data.europa.eu/en/newsletter] and following
data.europa.eu on social media! 
