The INFORM severity index

The INFORM Severity Index is an improved way to analyse the severity of humanitarian crises globally. It is a sensitive, regularly updated and easily interpreted model for measuring crisis severity that aims to assist decision-makers and contribute to improved effectiveness and coordination in humanitarian action.

The overall objective of the INFORM Severity Index is to measure the severity of humanitarian crises globally (i.e. between rather than within crises) and on an ongoing, up-to-date and regular basis. It seeks to communicate the current status of crises in a systematic, objective and understandable way. In its use - in combination with other sources of information - the INFORM Severity Index is intended to:

1. Lead to a shared and objective understanding of crisis severity
2. Contribute to decisions on the allocation of resources in a way that is proportionate with crisis severity
3. Justify and advocate for action, especially in the case of forgotten or unrecognised crises, and;
4. Monitor trends in crisis severity over time.