TYPHOONS IN THE PHILIPPINES: TSF'S SUPPORT TO AID EFFORTS
Mission in partnership with the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO)
On September 28th, TSF deployed to the Philippines responding to the two devastating typhoons, Ketsana and Parma, which have caused 849 deaths and affected more than 8.4 million people in 8 regions of the country. TSF's initial emergency response to Ketsana and Parma is now over and the team has returned to the regional base in Bangkok.
TSF has been supporting the humanitarian community in Metro Manila Region, as well as in Cagayan and Pangasinan Provinces (respectively in Regions II and I - see regions of the Philippines below) with vital communication links in critical times of the disaster response. TSF, in close cooperation with local authorities and governing bodies (National/Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils – NDCC/RDCC), has indeed empowered relief and rescue teams by establishing satellitebased Internet access, voice communications, fax lines, and by giving them continuous technical assistance, so that they could better achieve coordination in the field with headquarters, governments and other relief agencies. TSF has been providing continuous ICT support to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination teams (UNDAC) deployed to Region I, II and III.
From September 28th to October 19th, the TSF teams have also been running humanitarian calling operations in Metro Manila and Pangasinan Province to offer free local and international calls to those affected so that they could give news to their family and request personalized assistance.
