Analysis: Hard choices: When the Syria aid response runs out of money

AMMAN, 11 June 2013 (IRIN Middle East) - Last week, the UN launched its largest ever appeal for $4.4 billion to help Syrians in need inside their country and in refugee settings throughout 2013. But as the needs continue growing, donors are increasingly fatigued. At this cost, is the aid operation sustainable? full report

Analysis: The dangers of rushing Mali elections

DAKAR/BAMAKO, 6 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - As international donors, notably France and the USA, as well as the Economic Community of West African States, push for July presidential elections in Mali, critics say doing so could foment factionalization in the north thus further destabilizing it, threaten ongoing negotiations over Kidal town, and hamper reconciliation and dialogue. IRIN spoke to analysts, citizen activists and would-be voters to glean their views. full report

Analysis: Keeping human rights on the agenda in Myanmar

BANGKOK, 6 June 2013 (IRIN Asia) - As hundreds of representatives from 55 countries, including world leaders, business chiefs and media people meet in Myanmar for the World Economic Forum on East Asia, activists are warning the international community not to forget human rights. full report

Analysis: Politicians, military undermine Guinea-Bissau’s stability

BISSAU, 5 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - The small West African country of Guinea-Bissau is slated to hold fresh polls later this year after yet another coup, but opposition to security sector reform (SSR) by some in the army, the manipulation of the armed forces by politicians, as well as the military’s interference in politics could jeopardize a return to stability, analysts say. full report

Analysis: AU prepares its shock troops

JOHANNESBURG, 31 May 2013 (IRIN Africa) - A newly sanctioned African Union (AU) force for quick deployment in conflicts such as in Mali is being promoted as a stop-gap measure ahead of the planned formation of the “rapid deployment capability” (RDC) African Standby Force (ASF). full report

Analysis: Which technology to use for disaster management?

BANGKOK, 30 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - For decades, governments and NGOs have relied on private sector solutions to gather and interpret emergency data for crisis response, but a growing number of them have warmed in recent years to much cheaper "open-source" (OS) technology. IRIN spoke to experts around the world about their search for the most appropriate mix of technology to manage disasters. full report

Analysis: Media outlets multiply, but aid communication still missing mark

BANGKOK, 28 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - Whether it is Twitter or Sina Weibo (a Chinese Twitter-like microblog), YouTube or Facebook, neighbours or friends, the multiplicity of information outlets is shifting power from aid agencies to disaster-affected communities, according to a recently launched UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report Humanitarianism in the Network Age. full report

Analysis: Potential, pitfalls of "big data" for humanitarians

BANGKOK, 27 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - Humanitarians and crisis-affected communities are increasingly exploiting new technologies to gather near real-time information to prepare for, prevent and handle disasters, even as analysts caution against overreliance on “big data”. full report

Analysis: Slowing Nigerian grain trade threatens Sahel food security

DAKAR/KANO, 27 May 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Northern Nigeria’s grain trade, which supplies almost half of the Sahel’s cereals, has slowed severely, while abnormally high prices of staple grains across the Sahel are causing serious food security concerns in this chronically vulnerable region. full report