Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Refugees and Social Inclusion: The Role of Humanitarian Information Technologies

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Decision-making in Humanitarian Operations

Abstract

One of the most nefarious consequences of violent conflicts is forced displacement. Refugee crises have impacts on both the refugees’ place of origin (e.g., loss of human capital) and the places where they resettle (e.g., demands on health systems). Humanitarian information technologies (IT) can be used to collect, process and analyze information that may contribute to improving the livelihoods of refugees. This chapter summarizes the role of humanitarian IT in assisting refugees or organizations that provide services to them in the four steps of the refugee pathway: displacement (e.g., collecting information about the current situation), journey (e.g., providing information about the closest services on a map), temporary settlement (e.g., monitoring health programs of refugee camps), and permanent settlement (e.g., processing refugee resettlement in a new country).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.refugees-welcome.net/.

  2. 2.

    https://reliefweb.int/report/greece/unicef-refugee-and-migrant-crisis-europe-regional-humanitarian-situation-report-26-15.

  3. 3.

    https://www.facebook.com/refugeecrisiseu/.

  4. 4.

    https://familylinks.icrc.org/europe/en/Pages/Home.aspx.

  5. 5.

    Most Syrian refugees arrive at the following neighboring countries: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey (Favell, 2015).

References

  • Accenture. (2015). UNHCR: Innovative identity management system uses biometrics to better serve refugees. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.accenture.com/us-en/success-unhcr-innovative-identity-management-system

  • ACTED. (2014). How do geographic information systems inform humanitarian action? Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.acted.org/en/how-do-geographic-information-systems-inform-humanitarian-action

  • Aljazeera. (2017). UN: Number of Syrian refugees passes five million. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/number-syrian-refugees-passes-million-170330132040023.html

  • Altay, N., & Labonte, M. (2014). Challenges in humanitarian information management and exchange: Evidence from Haiti. Disasters, 38(s1), s50–s72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, R. D., & Castro, D. (2008). Digital quality of life: Understanding the personal and social benefits of the information technology revolution. Retrieved from SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1278185 or https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1278185

  • Baker, S., & Mason, M. (2012). Towards a process theory of consumer vulnerability and resilience: Illuminating its transformative potential. In D. Mick, S. Pettigrew, C. Pechmann, & J. Ozanne (Eds.), Transformative consumer research for personal and collective well-being. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barua, A., Lee, C. H. S., & Whinston, A. B. (1995). Incentives and computing systems for team-based organizations. Organization Science, 6(4), 487–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BenEzer, G. (2002). The Ethiopian Jewish Exodus: Narratives of the migration journey to Israel 1977–1985. London, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • BenEzer, G., & Zetter, R. (2014). Searching for directions: Conceptual and methodological challenges in researching refugee journeys. Journal of Refugee Studies, 28(3), 297–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, M., & Glennie, A. (2016). Digital humanitarianism: How tech entrepreneurs are supporting refugee integration. Washington, DC: Report for Migration Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Immigration. (2016). The refugee processing and screening system (text version of infographic). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved January 2018, from https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/prm/releases/factsheets/2016/264501.htm

  • Burt, E., & Taylor, J. A. (2000). Information and communication technologies: Reshaping voluntary organizations? Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 11(2), 131–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Council of Foreign Relations. (2017). Global Conflict Tracker. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker

  • Derose, K. P., Escarce, J. J., & Lurie, N. (2007). Immigrants and health care: Sources of vulnerability. Health Affairs, 26(5), 1258–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewett, T., & Jones, G. R. (2001). The role of information technology in the organization: A review, model, and assessment. Journal of Management, 27(3), 313–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz Andrade, A., & Doolin, B. (2016). Information and communication technology and the social inclusion of refugees. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 405–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erasmus+. (2014). OLS for refugees. Retrieved January 2018, from https://erasmusplusols.eu/ols4refugees/

  • Favell, A. (2015). How technology is helping deliver aid to Syrian refugees in the Middle East. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/How-technology-is-helping-deliver-aid-to-Syrian-refugees-in-the-Middle-East

  • FTS. (n.d.). About FTS. Retrieved January 2018, from https://fts.unocha.org/content/about-fts-1

  • Ganju, K. K., Pavlou, P. A., & Banker, R. D. (2016). Does information and communication technology lead to the well-being of nations? A country-level empirical investigation. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 417–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gartner. (2013). IT (Information Technology). Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/it-information-technology/

  • Gartner. (2018, January 29). Gartner says worldwide device shipments will increase 2.1 percent in 2018. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3187134

  • George, U., & Chaze, F. (2009). “Tell me what i need to know”: South Asian women, social capital and settlement. Journal of International Migration and Integration/Revue de l’integration et de la migration internationale, 10(3), 265–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonsalves, C. J. (1992). Psychological stages of the refugee process: A model for therapeutic interventions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 23(5), 382–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregor, S. (2006). The nature of theory in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hackler, D., & Saxton, G. D. (2007). The strategic use of information technology by nonprofit organizations: Increasing capacity and untapped potential. Public Administration Review, 67(3), 474–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, B. (2015). UNHCR WASH manual. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.ben-harvey.org/UNHCR/WASH-Manual/Wiki/index.php/Monitoring_the_effectiveness_of_WASH_interventions

  • Haskew, C., Spiegel, P., Tomczyk, B., Cornier, N., & Hering, H. (2010). A standardized health information system for refugee settings: Rationale, challenges and the way forward. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(10), 792–794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitt, L. M., & Brynjolfsson, E. (1996). Productivity, business profitability, and consumer surplus: Three different measures of information technology value. MIS Quarterly, 20(2), 121–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howden, M. (2009). How humanitarian logistics information systems can improve humanitarian supply chains: A view from the Field. In Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference (pp. 1–10), Gothenburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, C. (2016). Google map perspective: A refugee’s journey walking from Syria to Serbia. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/syrian-refugee-google-map-perspective

  • Humanitarian Response. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/about

  • Iaria, V. (2011). Iraqi refugees’ informal information systems in Syria and Jordan. Bulletin for the Council for British Research in the Levant, 6(1), 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Informatik 17. (n.d.). Integreat—Information platform for refugees. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.i17.in.tum.de/index.php?id=345

  • Internet World Stats. (2017, December 31). World internet usage and population statistics. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/

  • Kaiser, R., Spiegel, P. B., Henderson, A. K., & Gerber, M. L. (2003). The application of geographic information systems and global positioning systems in humanitarian emergencies: Lessons learned, programme implications and future research. Disasters, 27(2), 127–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovács, G., & Spens, K. M. (2007). Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(2), 99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, N., & Carlson, S. (2011). The virtual field: Remote crisis mapping of the Haitian earthquake. PRAXIS: The Fletcher Journal of Human Security, 15, 87–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2014). Management information systems. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. (2013). Disease surveillance among newly arriving refugees and immigrants—Electronic disease notification system, United States, 2009. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6207a1.htm

  • Lee, H. W., & Zbinden, M. (2003). Marrying logistics and technology for effective relief. Forced Migration Review, 18(3), 34–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, T. E., Chen, J. Q., & Zhang, R. (2001). Utilizing the internet as a competitive tool for non-profit organizations. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 41(3), 26–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee-Won, R. J., Abo, M. M., Na, K., & White, T. N. (2016). More than numbers: Effects of social media virality metrics on intention to help unknown others in the context of bone marrow donation. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(6), 404–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lind, M. R., & Zmud, R. W. (1995). Improving interorganizational effectiveness through voice mail facilitation of peer-to-peer relationships. Organization Science, 6(4), 445–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, A., Anne Kennan, M., Thompson, K. M., & Qayyum, A. (2013). Connecting with new information landscapes: Information literacy practices of refugees. Journal of Documentation, 69(1), 121–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, D. C., & Wood, D. F. (1995). The logistics of famine relief. Journal of Business Logistics, 16(1), 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovejoy, K., & Saxton, G. D. (2012). Information, community, and action: How nonprofit organizations use social media. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 17(3), 337–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malone, T. W. (1987). Modeling coordination in organizations and markets. Management Science, 33(10), 1317–1332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majchrzak, A., Markus, M. L., & Wareham, J. (2016). Designing for digital transformation: Lessons for information systems research from the study of ICT and societal challenges. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 267–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mateen, F. J., Carone, M., Al-Saedy, H., Nyce, S., Ghosn, J., Mutuerandu, T., & Black, R. E. (2012). Medical conditions among iraqi refugees in Jordan: Data from the United Nations refugee assistance information system. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 90(6), 444–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasa, A. (2017). Gov’t introduces Tracking Refugee Information System to update, gather data on refugees. Retrieved December 2017, from https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/263348/govt-introduces-tracking-refugee-information-system-update-gather-data

  • OCHA. (n.d.). Information management. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/our-work/information-management

  • Pettit, S., & Beresford, A. (2009). Critical success factors in the context of humanitarian aid supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39(6), 450–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, A., Reilly, E., & Hemmendinger, D. (2003). Encyclopedia of computer science. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • RPC. (2016). About us. Retrieved from http://www.wrapsnet.org/about-us/about/

  • Schultz, C., Barrios, A., Krasinoff, A., Bennett, A., Becker, I., Sierra, J., & Santos, M. (2017). Humanitarian business for the refugee pathway. Manuscript submitted for publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel, P. B., Sheik, M., Woodruff, B. A., & Burnham, G. (2001). The accuracy of mortality reporting in displaced persons camps during the post-emergency phase. Disasters, 25(2), 172–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starbird, K., & Palen, L. (2011, May). Voluntweeters: Self-organizing by digital volunteers in times of crisis. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems (pp. 1071–1080). ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Earth Institute at Columbia University & Ericsson. (2016). ICT & SDGs: How information and communication technology can accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.ericsson.com/assets/local/news/2016/05/ict-sdg.pdf

  • United Nations. (2016). Information and communications technologies integrally tied to sustainable development, speakers say at second committee debate. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/gaef3454.doc.htm

  • UN General Assembly. (1967). Protocol relating to the status of refugees. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3ae4.html

  • UNHCR. (2010). Protracted refugee situations. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.unhcr.org/research/eval/4a1d43986/protracted-refugee-situations.html

  • UNHCR. (2014) Inter-sectoral meeting. Retrieved January 2018, from data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/download.php?id=4369

  • UNHCR. (2015a). Figures at a glance. Retrieved January 2018, from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

  • UNHCR. (2015b). Inter agency meeting. Retrieved January 2018, from data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/admin/download.php?id=9586

  • UNHCR. (2017). Humanitarian principles. Retrieved January 2018, from https://emergency.unhcr.org/entry/44766/humanitarian-principles

  • Van de Walle, B., Van Den Eede, G., & Muhren, W. (2009). Humanitarian information management and systems. In J. Löffler & M. Klann (Eds.), Mobile response, LNCS 5424 (pp. 12–21). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vieweg, S., Hughes, A. L., Starbird, K., & Palen, L. (2010). Microblogging during two natural hazards events: What Twitter may contribute to situational awareness. CHI 2010 (pp. 1–10). Atlanta: ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, T. (2009). Social inclusion: The origins, meaning, definitions and economic implications of the concept of inclusion/exclusion. Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J. J., & Tian, Q. (2014). Consumer vulnerability and marketplace exclusion: A case of rural migrants and financial services in China. Journal of Macromarketing, 34(1), 45–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, J. I., Palen, L., & Anderson, K. M. (2014). Digital mobilization in disaster response: The work & self-organization of on-line pet advocates in response to hurricane sandy. In Proceedings of the 17th ACM conference on computer supported cooperative work & social computing (pp. 866–876). ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winerman, L. (2009). Social networking: Crisis communication. Nature News, 457, 376–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Vision. (2010). The journey. Get Connected. Retrieved January 2018, from https://www.worldvision.com.au/docs/default-source/school-resources/get-connected-full-issues/getconnected-08-migration.pdf?sfvrsn=8

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    Sonia Camacho & Andrés Barrios

  2. Department of Systems and Computing Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    Andrea Herrera

Authors
  1. Sonia Camacho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrea Herrera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrés Barrios
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonia Camacho .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    Sebastián Villa

  2. Kelley School of Business Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

    Gloria Urrea

  3. School of Management Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia

    Jaime Andrés Castañeda

  4. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Erik R. Larsen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Camacho, S., Herrera, A., Barrios, A. (2019). Refugees and Social Inclusion: The Role of Humanitarian Information Technologies. In: Villa, S., Urrea, G., Castañeda, J.A., Larsen, E.R. (eds) Decision-making in Humanitarian Operations. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91509-8_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation