In July this year, ReliefWeb achieved a remarkable milestone – the one-millionth humanitarian update was posted on the site. As such it adds yet another string to our bow – in 2022, we attracted a notable 20 million users.
The past few years have been significant - going to 24/7 updating of humanitarian information in 2015, launching the responsive site in 2020 to make it easier to access the site on mobile devices; marking our 25th year of operation in 2021. And all thanks to the 2,000-plus organisations that share their information with the humanitarian community and beyond through ReliefWeb, be it reports, maps, analysis, infographics, assessments, fact sheets or press releases. And, of course, jobs and training programmes, which comprise a significant part of our output. Our global teams of 25+ editors managed out of Bangkok, Nairobi and New York offices are ever diligent in ensuring the correct classification of every entry that crosses their monitors, to facilitate ease of search for our users, especially in search engine results.
ReliefWeb uploads humanitarian updates through submissions and syndications from verified and relevant sources. Before publication on the site, the editors apply meta data to each content according to region, language, subject theme and source, which is further broken down into international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, UN agencies, government ministries, and Red Cross/Crescent. This makes the discovery of content easy, either through ReliefWeb's filters or search, or on search engines.
In recent years, we have reflected the growing importance of localisation and the increasing role of community in humanitarian action by hosting a growing number of national governmental agencies and local humanitarian non-governmental organisations. We will continue to support such local information partners.
Challenging humanitarian environment
ReliefWeb’s monumental one million reports record comes at a time when humanitarian requirements worldwide are extremely challenging. The number of people needing humanitarian assistance and protection has reached a record high of 339 million in 69 countries, an increase of 65 million people against the same time last year. At end-July, the 2023 record appeal for $51.5 billion was only 24 percent funded.
As the go-to, one-stop hub for all humanitarian resources pertaining to disasters and crises around the globe, the information we collate and publish helps to ensure fast, efficient and effective humanitarian response by our partners and colleagues across the humanitarian sphere, so please do keep that information coming and help us to continue breaking our own records. As a flagship web service of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, we strive to constantly serve our community better.
As always, we value your comments and suggestions at feedback@reliefweb.int or connect with us on social media - Twitter; LinkedIn; Facebook and Instagram.