The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) and 11 European Red Cross National Societies launched a campaign to raise awareness about silent emergencies. According to the IFRC, 91% of disasters they respond to are not reported by the media.

In a event celebrated at the European Parliament, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) and 11 European Red Cross National Societies presented a campaign that will intend to raise awareness to the silent disasters. As they are deemed small or medium sized disasters, 91% of disasters the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) respond to are not reported by the media, said this Federation at the launching. In January 2013, the European Commission adopted its plan for the allocation of over €661 million in humanitarian aid funding for 2013.

The campaign will see a 50 second cinema and TV spot distributed across eleven European countries and online media to raise public awareness on silent disasters for four weeks. A variety of campaign materials such as online photo exhibits, new statistics and direct testimonials from humanitarian workers currently relieving suffering in silent disaster areas are also being released.

Participants at the launching event discussed the importance of working closely with the media to increase the volume on these silent disasters. They also heavily advocated disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience-based projects as solutions to prevent disasters. Nonetheless, they agreed that this work should also find its place in the media.