Information: a humanitarian defence against hybrid warfare

Residents walk in the street while transporting belongings following deadly flash floods in La Torre, south of Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 31, 2024. Rescuers raced on October 31, 2024 to find survivors and victims of once-in-a-generation floods in Spain that killed at least 95 people and left towns submerged in a muddy deluge with overturned cars scattered in the streets. About 1,000 troops joined police and firefighters in the grim search for bodies in the Valencia region as Spain started three days of mourning. Up to a year's rain fell in a few hours on the eastern city of Valencia and surrounding region on October 29 sending torrents of water and mud through towns and cities. (Photo by Manaure QUINTERO / AFP)
Residents walk in the street while transporting belongings following deadly flash floods in La Torre, south of Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 31, 2024. Photo by Manaure QUINTERO / AFP

In 2026, the world saw record numbers of people displaced by disasters or conflict. Against this backdrop, humanitarian action — more vital than ever — is increasingly hampered by disinformation campaigns that target victims first and foremost. Better informing these populations is surely a way to better assist them.

This 17th issue of our biannual publication Médiation presents figures, initiatives, and expert insights on the role of reliable, local information in humanitarian contexts.