Misinfo emerging as main threat during disasters

False and misleading information is increasingly emerging as a major threat to disaster response, often putting lives at risk and disrupting humanitarian operations, according to the latest World Disasters Report 2026 released by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The report highlights how the rapid spread of harmful information—particularly on digital platforms—can erode public trust, obstruct humanitarian access and even trigger violence against aid workers during crises.
According to the report, disasters between 2020 and 2024 affected nearly 700 million people worldwide, including those in Bangladesh, causing more than 105 million displacements and over 270,000 deaths. During the same period, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance more than doubled.
The IFRC warns that misinformation is becoming a serious challenge in emergency response, especially in politically polarised environments where humanitarian principles such as neutrality and impartiality are often misunderstood or deliberately misrepresented online.
Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC, said accurate information is as vital during a crisis as food, water or shelter.
“When information is false or manipulated, it can create fear, block humanitarian access and ultimately cost lives,” he said.
The report also references incidents in Bangladesh where volunteers providing first aid and humanitarian assistance during a period of political unrest faced accusations of inaction and political bias.
These claims spread widely online, resulting in harassment and reputational damage for volunteers, despite their efforts to assist affected communities.
The report outlines similar challenges in several countries.
In Spain, false claims circulated online during flooding in Valencia accused the Spanish Red Cross of diverting aid to migrants, sparking xenophobic attacks against volunteers.
In South Sudan, rumours that aid agencies were distributing poisoned food discouraged people from seeking life-saving assistance and led to threats against aid workers.
Meanwhile in Lebanon, misinformation during overlapping crises alleged that volunteers were spreading Covid-19 or distributing unsafe cholera vaccines, further weakening public trust.
The report notes that about 94% of disasters are managed primarily by national authorities and local communities, often without international assistance.
Local volunteers, community leaders and local media are usually the most trusted sources of information. However, they are increasingly operating in hostile information environments where rumours and misinformation spread rapidly.
Chapagain emphasised that trust remains one of the most critical elements in effective disaster response. Without trust, people are less likely to follow safety advice, prepare for disasters or seek help when needed, he said.
The IFRC has called for stronger cooperation among governments, technology companies, humanitarian organisations and local communities to tackle harmful information during crises.
The report recommends that digital platforms prioritise verified information from trusted humanitarian and health organisations and improve moderation of misleading content.
Governments are also urged to develop evidence-based regulations and strengthen data systems to track misinformation during emergencies.
Humanitarian agencies, meanwhile, should integrate strategies to address harmful information through trained teams, predictive tools and stronger community engagement.
The World Disasters Report 2026 aims to help policymakers and humanitarian organisations strengthen resilience against misinformation before, during and after disasters.