Five weeks after security concerns forced it to pull out of the country, emergency telecommunications agency Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) announced it is resuming its humanitarian calling operation in Pakistan. TSF plans to return to areas where the refugee problem is compounded by the absence of reliable terrestrial communications.
More than 25 refugee camps have been established, as well as a number of “humanitarian hubs” to support people who have found shelter with family or friends.
Free calls
TSF spokesperson Myriam Annette said the team hoped to offer free calls to people in several districts, although security conditions are making it difficult to reach some refugees. “TSF is ready to target those areas not covered by local telecommunications networks and to provide satellite-based mobile telecommunications to the humanitarian organizations that will finally reach those areas,” she said.
TSF pulled out of Pakistan after the attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel on 9 June, which killed 17 people, including two United Nations (UN) employees. TSF’s head of mission, Oisin Walton, was among 50 guests who were injured.
Displaced people
However, having local workers trained on site by TSF, ensured a pre-planned calling operation could continue, with more than 1,500 calls offered to displaced people in Mardan district.
TSF reports that Oisin is likely to return to Islamabad soon to co-ordinate the resumption of the telecom mission, in collaboration with the local NGO Youth Resources Centre (YRC).
According to the latest registration information available, nearly 3 million people are estimated to have fled fighting in North-West Pakistan since 2008.
