Missions

Typhoons Ketsana and Parma resulted in the deaths of more than 800 people and caused damage in 8 regions of the Philippines. A TSF team was operational in Manila less than 24 hours after the NDCC request. The telecom facilities installed by the team connected coordination centers in Manila, Tuguegarao and Tarlac; they also benefited UNDAC evaluation teams in 3 regions. More than 1070 calls were made to those affected, who were able to contact their family abroad.

Strengthening the ICT and telecoms capacity of the National System for Health Information in Niger.

TSF supported satellite communications and IT resource centres for humanitarian emergency operations following four hurricanes in Haiti.

Niger remains among one of the poorest countries in the world and suffers from food insecurity on a regular basis. The monitoring and management of the food vulnerability of Nigerien populations in isolated areas must be strengthened. Indeed, for maximum efficiency, information systems are an essential tool,coupled with the knowledge of risks, monitoring and the ability to react quickly.

Following Typhoon Durian, which swept the Philippines on 1 December, Télécoms Sans Frontières immediately mobilised its teams to strengthen the relief efforts and offer communications to the affected population. The team from the Asian regional base collaborated with the National Centre for Disaster Coordination (NDCC)

TSF restores family ties amongst relatives separated during the dry season.

On February 17, a large landslide buried the village of Guisagon (Leyte) under several metres of mud affecting nearly 2,000 inhabitants. In the hours that followed, TSF dispatched a team of emergency telecommunications specialists from its Asia base in Bangkok, Thailand. Less than 48 hours after the disaster, TSF had installed a telecoms centre to the benefit of all United Nations Agencies, NGOs and national and international relief workers.

Hit by the drought, then by the locust invasion, Niger's harvests were insufficient in 2004. The granaries were empty and the next harvest was several months away. Famine threatened the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. Residents, local officials and NGOs called for urgent help - TSF set up an emergency communications centre in Dakoro.

Three successive major typhoons mainly affected the province of Quezon - 75 km east of Manila. The intervention team from TSF, with the support of the NDCC, arrived in the city of Réal where it provided assistance to the population and rescue teams. This mission was co-funded by the European Commission.

Cyclone Jeanne hit Haiti on 18th September. Two days of heavy rains led to serious flooding in North West Haiti, principally affecting the town of Gonaives. At the time of the disaster, TSF was already mobilised on the island of Grenada since 13th September. A TSF team arrived on Haiti on 24th September and had be augmented one week later. The team was from this date operational to bring help and support to the victims as well as local and international NGOs.

TSF deployed to the Dominican Republic and Haiti following devastating floods to create emergency communications centres for relief agencies and the affected population

Although it is difficult to prevent risks, the preparation and investment in effective response mechanisms at regional and national levels limit the impact of humanitarian disasters. Haiti being regularly threatened by natural disasters, the collaboration between TSF and ANSH is part of an effective emergency response strategy.