Pacific Disaster Management Information Network (PDMIN)

We know that in this age of the Internet, finding information is not a problem, but the question is: How relevant and timely is that information in times of crisis? A lack of readily available, objective, and well-organized information can impede the speed and quality of a humanitarian response. Decision-makers also can succumb to information overload, which interferes with getting the job done. In recognition of this phenomenon, COE's Pacific Disaster Management Information Network (PDMIN) synthesizes information into easily readable, objective reports, designed for decision-makers. These reports are distributed to civilian and military entities that often respond to large-scale disasters and humanitarian emergencies. They include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), International Organizations, and UN agencies.

One of our products, the Asia Pacific Daily Report, is a compilation of significant happenings each day in the Asia-Pacific region. Published Monday through Friday, the report covers topics such as natural and man-made disasters, conflicts, civil unrest, and humanitarian emergencies.

PDMIN also produces more in-depth situation reports. For instance, in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, when responders generally do not have time to sift through piles of information, PDMIN reports provide a comprehensive overview of the situation. PDMIN has produced in-depth situation reports in the aftermath of some recent large-scale emergencies including the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the October 2005 South Asia Earthquake, the February 2006 Philippines South Leyte Mudslide, and Indonesia's Java Island Earthquake in May 2006.

These situation reports fuse information from a variety of humanitarian responders, including international and indigenous NGOs, United Nations agencies, government, and media - both local and international. The reports contain information about ground operations to help avoid duplication of effort and to encourage cooperation. In essence these reports attempt to answer the questions: "Who's doing what?", "Where are they doing it?", and "When is it going to be done?".

The publication of these reports varies from seven days a week to once a week, depending on the phase of the crisis.

COE also provides weekly reports on disease threats such as the avian flu in the Asia-Pacific region, and on the current humanitarian situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our products are available free of charge via subscription and posted on our website at www.coe-dmha.org.