What is IRIN?
IRIN is a humanitarian news network and was founded in 1995 to improve the  flow of vital information to those involved in relief efforts in the Great Lakes region following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. IRIN is based in Nairobi, Kenya and has five main offices and four sub-offices as well as a network of stringers in 55 countries. IRIN is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but its news service is editorially independent. Its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations and its various agencies.
What does IRIN do?
IRIN’s principal role is to provide news and analysis about sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for the humanitarian community. IRIN also provides information through its text and radio services and enhances advocacy efforts through the provision of materials – photos, films and reports – that can be used by humanitarian agencies to highlight forgotten crises.
Where does IRIN operate?
Although IRIN started with coverage of the Great Lakes region of Africa, its area of geographical coverage has increased steadily since then. Areas now covered by IRIN include Iraq, parts of Asia and all of sub-Saharan Africa. News coverage of Nepal was launched in 2005, bringing the total number of countries covered to 55. An expansion of the Iraq service to cover all of the Middle East is also planned.
What does IRIN cover?
The range of subjects covered and the number of services offered have also increased over the years. The core news service is distributed free of charge to subscribers by e-mail, and via the website, www.irinnews.org.
This is now complemented by a range of other multimedia services:
- PlusNews - a specialist news service on HIV/AIDS
- IRIN Radio - which is helping to develop the programming of radio stations in Africa and Afghanistan
- IRIN Films - which produces short documentary films for advocacy, and news footage for international media.
Who does IRIN serve?
The networks that make up IRIN target decision-makers in relief agencies, host and donor governments, human-rights organizations, humanitarian advocacy groups, academic institutions and the media. At the same time, IRIN strives to ensure that affected communities can also access reliable information, so they can take informed decisions about their future.
IRIN has a growing worldwide readership, and now stands at more than one million people. Many more receive IRIN news indirectly by picking up its reports on other websites and in newspapers. Most of IRIN’s news output is in English, but a French-language version of PlusNews was launched in 2004 and a limited general news service is published in French, Kiswahali and Dari (a language commonly used in Afghanistan). Plans for specialist news output in Arabic, Portuguese and Russian are in the pipeline.
|