Situation Reports

Situation reports are an essential tool for managing and responding to complex situations, as they help to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and on the same page regarding the current state of affairs 

Locating new and varied data sources to determine response on the ground remains a critical issue for all humanitarian responders. This includes limitations in access to field data, poor and inconsistent monitoring of events that could turn into hazards, an overall lack of standardization, and poor data validation. Ensuring situation reports data are capturing data from local and national organizations can have a significant positive impact, including: 

• Partnerships, focused advocacy and sharing of good practices among diasporas 
• Efficient use of financial and human resources in responding to crises 
• Better preparedness mechanisms and planning for crisis response  

Sitreps do not often include diaspora humanitarian activities, which means that diaspora activities are often not ‘’visible’ to other humanitarian agencies. The Switchboard Sitreps have been created for use by diaspora humanitarians from Haiti, Sudan, and Syria to capture their humanitarian activities and to support diaspora crisis advocacy.  Diaspora humanitarians from other diasporas may also find them useful for creating their own Sitreps to support their humanitarian work.