A crew of specialists in emergency telecommunications took off on Saturday from Télécoms Sans Frontières' Americas base situated in Managua, Nicaragua to strengthen the coordination of relief teams following heavy floods which are affecting 9 of the 19 provinces of Uruguay.
According to a report from the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), some 110,000 people have been affected by the worst flooding since 1959. 12,000 people have already been evacuated. These figures are likely to rise in the coming hours when the flood waters reach low-lying areas.
Communications have been disrupted in several affected zones and upon arrival TSF will immediately put satellite communications equipment available in order to facilitate the first assessments and ensure reliable communication between the field and organizations head offices. TSF's specialists in emergency telecommunications are carrying three mobile satellite data transmitters (Inmarsat Bgan and RBgan terminals) and satellite phones enabling to deploy communication centres with broadband Internet, phone and fax lines and other IT equipment.
TSF is ready to deploy more crews from France depending on the needs of rescue teams and of affected civilians.
This mission is coordinated with the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and funded by the Vodafone Group Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and TSF's other partners."
Posted to the site on 14th May 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/23729.php