TSF to the Rescue, Again

They’ve been in the news many times for their humanitarian efforts, through the use of technology. Once again, a crew of emergency telecom specialists from Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) is currently in Mozambique to strengthen aid agencies in helping victims of the floods in the Zambezi River valley. The team originally deployed in February from TSF’s headquarters in France. This time, almost 100,000 people have been displaced due to heavy floods brought on by heavy rains in neighboring countries. The floods were so severe that the original 17 re-settlement centers are reported to be flooded, and people are being relocated to higher ground.

Sadly, this same drill took place at the same time last year, wherein TSF deployed in the region and installed three Communication Centres in Caia, Mutarara and Mopeia within the framework of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC). At that time, TSF situated the initial phase of the emergency response and deployed satellite communications then handed over to Unicef for phase two. The follow up results indicted that 24 aid organizations benefited from TSF’s satellite communications notably to send assessments and reports on the situation, better coordinate and follow weather forecasts to prepare for potential new floods. Aid agencies were also able to follow in real time the course of Hurricane Favio which hit the country a few days after TSF deployed.

Fast forward to the present and the possibilities of complications that could include: the onset of cholera as drinking water becomes contaminated and increased risk of malaria as more mosquitoes hatch in the wet conditions. Aid organizations are working with the Mozambique authorities to provide health, nutrition, educational and child-protection activities including the supply of clean water and insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The coordination of these activities through swift and reliable communication is obvious and this is where TSF enters in, again. With dire circumstances the increase in Internet access points is critical and a new satellite-based connection has be set up in Caia. This connection is shared with a maximum number of agencies as the result of a point-to-point microwave antenna offering a 5 km-long range. The antenna also supplies high-speed data services giving aid agencies broadband connectivity to essential logistical information via Internet, email, voice and fax. TSF is prepared to install long-term satellite solutions so that the Communication Centre in Caia is ready for a three-month mission. This mission is supported by the Vodafone Group Foundation (VGF), the United Nations Foundation (UNF), Inmarsat, Eutelsat, AT&T, Vizada, Cable & Wireless and the Region of Aquitaine—Paris, France