TSF Headquarters, November 2nd, 2010
In the aftermath of the devastating tsunami that swept the Mentawai islands on October 25th, TSF deployed to Indonesia at the request of the Office of the President of Indonesia and in coordination with ASEAN and BNPB (the Indonesian Government Disaster Management agency).
From its regional base in Bangkok, TSF first touched ground in Padang then reached Sikakap, capital of South and North Pagai, the islands most affected of the archipelago, situated about 150 kms off the coast of Indonesia. In the field since Friday morning October 29th, TSF has been supporting the humanitarian community and the affected populations.
Upon arrival in Sikakap, TSF installed a satellite-based emergency telecoms center at the humanitarian coordinating office to reinforce the communication and response capacity of rescue teams.
Beneficiary organisms: Acted, CDRM, Hizbut Tahrir, Tagana, BNPB, Mapala unand, DD, Dian Insani Indonesia, Mercy corps, Muslim aid, Surfaid international, Air Putih, Ericsson, French Red Cross.
Saturday 30 October, TSF’s team conducted an assessment of existing emergency communication means on North and South Pagai islands. The objective of the assessment was also to determine the needs of rescue teams and aid agencies in telecommunications in the affected areas.
The team travelled in the northern part of the island (notably in the cities of Muntei and Saumanganya) and then concentrated their efforts on the west coast of North and South Pagai, the most damaged as the tsunami came in from the west.
While in Siberut and Sipora, the two Northern islands, there is relatively good mobile coverage; there are no communication facilities in North and South Pagai islands, except in the capital Sikakap. Establishing communication between Sikakap and the affected villages is vital. First responders need telecommunications services to communicate humanitarian needs as quickly as possible and distribute the aid in an effective and coordinated manner into those very poor villages that remain difficult to access.
TELECOMS SANS FRONTIERES
+33 (0)5 59 84 43 60 – +33 (0)5 59 84 43 58
communication@tsfi.org
www.tsfi.org
Since October 31st, TSF has run humanitarian calling operations in isolated villages, such as Puraorogat and Limosua. For all beneficiaries, TSF’s phone call was the first contact they’ve had since the outbreak of the disaster.
Thanks to TSF, the chief of the village of Limosua could call his youngest daughter sent to school in Padang. He let her know that they had survived and that the village had not received any aid since the disaster. Thanks to TSF, a list of their needs was passed on to the coordination center in Sikakap.
It seems that these very poor people, who are self-sufficient, have few family members to contact outside the islands. As a consequence, our calling operations should be limited.
Like in the Philippines, in partnership with the European Commission, TSF has decided to stay for several months in these very poor islands, in order to strengthen their capacities in emergency telecommunications.
Within the framework of the program that will last until the end of January 2011, TSF will pre-position emergency communications solutions in the affected islands, in order to guarantee communications for the current emergency response and during future disasters, even if commercial networks have been damaged. An independent communication system will enable timely information flow and improve the coordination and response to meet the needs of those affected.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is a service under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
About the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO)
Since the creation of its Humanitarian Aid Department in 1992, the European Commission has funded humanitarian aid missions that provide emergency assistance and relief to the millions of victims of natural disasters or armed conflict outside the European Union. The aid is intended to go directly to those in distress, irrespective of race, religion or political convictions. The European Union’s mandate to ECHO is also to promote the public awareness of humanitarian aid through actions carried out directly.
Through ECHO funding, some 18 million people are helped each year through 200 partners (NGOs, ICRC, and UN agencies like the UNHCR and the WFP).
The European Commission is one of the biggest sources of humanitarian aid in the world. In 2008, it provided more than € 900 million for humanitarian programs. This does not include the aid given separately by the EU’s 27 Member States. These funds made possible projects in over 70 countries, bringing goods (including essential supplies, specific foodstuffs, medical equipment, medicines and fuel) and services (including medical teams, water purification teams and logistical support).The Commission supports as well projects that increase the emergency preparedness in zones prone to natural disaster, as well as reinforcing the capacity to mitigate the consequences of catastrophes.
For more information about the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission, consult: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
Télécoms Sans Frontières: the leading humanitarian NGO specialised in emergency telecommunications
About Télécoms Sans Frontières
With its 24-hour monitoring centre and relying on its operational bases in Europe, Central America and Asia, Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) crews of IT and telecoms specialists can intervene anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours. After a sudden onset disaster or conflict, they can set up in a matter of minutes a satellite-based telecoms centre offering broadband Internet, phone and fax lines. These centres enable emergency NGOs, the United Nations and local authorities to communicate right at the heart of a crisis. They also facilitate the coordination of aid efforts. In parallel, TSF runs humanitarian calling operation to offer support and assistance to affected civilians, giving them a link with the outside world from which they would be otherwise completely cut off.
Beyond emergency response, TSF is also engaged in ongoing prevention and development programs, including technology centres for local populations, and support to projects in collaboration with stakeholders from multiple sectors (health, agriculture, education…). TSF also organizes general training sessions in emergency telecommunications for other relief organizations and national disaster response agencies in order to reinforce the efficiency of humanitarian action worldwide. Emergency kits are provided to country offices, made of satellite communications and IT equipment and including power supplies, so that when commercial infrastructure is cut, offices can stay connected, report and coordinate with the central agency. These long-term education and training projects lead to positive impacts in economic development as well as capacity building of humanitarian organizations.
Since its creation in 1998, TSF deployed to nearly 60 countries and assisted more than 550 relief organizations and hundreds of thousands of victims. TSF is partner of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO). In 2006, TSF became a partner of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). TSF was designated “First Emergency Telecoms Responder” within the United Nations Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC).
Télécoms Sans Frontières is also a working group member of the United Nations emergency telecoms body (WGET) and a member of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).
For more information, consult: www.tsfi.org
