Misinformation During Crises Endangers Lives, Red Cross Report Finds

Misinformation and disinformation during humanitarian crises are increasingly hampering relief efforts and putting lives at risk, according to a new report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The report details numerous recent incidents where false information has directly impacted disaster response operations, eroded community trust, and endangered both vulnerable populations and humanitarian workers.

During the devastating floods that struck Valencia, Spain earlier this year, online narratives falsely claimed the Spanish Red Cross was diverting aid away from local victims to migrants. These fabricated stories triggered xenophobic attacks against volunteers working in affected areas, complicating relief efforts when they were most needed.

In South Sudan, potentially life-saving humanitarian aid was compromised when rumors spread that organizations were distributing poisoned food. The IFRC reported that these false claims not only caused vulnerable populations to avoid critical assistance but also led to threats against Red Cross staff attempting to provide aid.

Lebanon saw similar challenges when misinformation claimed that volunteers were deliberately spreading COVID-19, showing favoritism in aid distribution, and providing unsafe cholera vaccines. These false narratives significantly damaged trust in humanitarian operations and put already vulnerable communities at greater risk.

Political tensions in Bangladesh created another dangerous information environment, with Red Cross volunteers facing widespread accusations of political alignment and deliberate inaction. The report noted that these false claims resulted in harassment of aid workers and reputational damage that hindered effective disaster response.

The IFRC documented similar misinformation-related incidents across multiple countries including Sudan, Myanmar, Peru, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Kenya, and Bulgaria, highlighting the global nature of this growing challenge.

IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain emphasized the critical relationship between trust and effective disaster response. “Without trust, people are less likely to prepare, seek help or follow life-saving guidance; with it, communities act together, absorb shocks and recover more effectively,” Chapagain stated.

The report highlighted an important context often overlooked in international disaster coverage: approximately 94 percent of disasters are handled by national authorities and local communities without international intervention. Local volunteers, community leaders, and regional media outlets typically serve as the most trusted information sources during crises.

“However, while volunteers, local leaders and community media are often the most trusted messengers, they operate in increasingly hostile and polarized information environments,” the IFRC warned.

In response to these challenges, the federation issued a series of recommendations for multiple stakeholders. It called on governments, technology companies, humanitarian agencies, and local actors to recognize that reliable information “is a matter of life and death” during disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

Technology platforms were specifically urged to prioritize authoritative information from trusted sources during crises and to implement transparent moderation of harmful content that could impede relief efforts or endanger vulnerable populations.

The report also emphasized that humanitarian organizations themselves need to make preparing for and countering disinformation “a core function” of their operations. This includes developing dedicated teams trained in information management and employing analytics to identify and address false narratives quickly.

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, and as digital misinformation continues to spread rapidly across social media platforms, the intersection of these two trends presents a growing challenge for humanitarian response efforts.

The IFRC’s findings underscore how the information ecosystem surrounding disasters has become nearly as important as physical aid in determining successful outcomes for affected communities. Building resilience against misinformation appears increasingly vital to effective humanitarian work in the digital age.