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Relief workers are often called upon to perform their
duties in remote areas which are not served by telecommunications or where networks have
been destroyed. Co-ordinating aid efforts, and keeping in touch with fellow workers, are
vital to the rapid delivery of assistance where it is most needed. New types of
satellite-based communications equipment is increasingly being used by aid agencies to
establish a communications base in disaster-struck areas. Such equipment enables teams to
exchange messages in the field, as well as communicate internationally with headquarters. Mobile Earth Station STD-A, which can be installed very rapidly in
case of natural disaster |
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In large-scale disasters such as an earthquake, rapid
co-ordination of rescue efforts is vital. Teams use specially trained dogs, and keep in
contact with each other and the on-site operations centre via walkie-talkies. Effective
use of all available resources is essential - the chances of finding people alive beneath
the rubble and debris decreases with each passing minute. Earthquake in Mexico, 1985 |
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Embarking on an international relief project requires
expert logistical planning and a high-level of preparedness. Essential telecommunications
equipment is packed in trunks ready for immediate deployment on the ground. Usually, a
range of equipment is chosen - satellite phones, radio systems, and so on - to ensure
that, whatever the state of the fixed line network in the disaster zone, some form of
communications will be possible. Transportability is also a key factor. Equipment must be
able to be moved quickly and easily, while at the same time remain operational to keep the
lines of communication open. Satellite phones and mobile cellular systems are small and
easily portable, while radio can be used in the form of hand-held walkie-talkies or
mounted inside workers' vehicles. La chaîne Suisse
de Sauvetage preparing for a mission |
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New types of satellite telecommunications systems, known
as 'Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite', will soon make international
phone calls possible from anywhere in the world, even in the absence of a fixed line
telecommunications infrastructure. Using new types of Low- and Medium- Earth Orbiting
satellites, users will be able to send and receive voice and fax messages, and even use
their phones to send and receive data via their laptop computer. These new systems promise
to aid greatly in international relief efforts, particularly in regions where a local
phone system is absent, or has been destroyed. Satellite-based
mobile handsets |
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Refugee camps are often located far away from
communications centres. Relief agencies like the Red Cross use portable communications
such as satellite phones and radiocommunications equipment to keep in touch with their
local delegations in the region, and with their headquarters in Geneva. Nyarushishi Camp in Rwanda |
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Keeping track of people during a large-scale exodus is
difficult, but essential for ensuring that aid can be delivered to the most needy areas,
and for facilitating the tracing and reunion of families once the crisis is over. Reliable
on-the-ground communications are vital for monitoring the movement of communities, and for
relaying information back to local headquarters so that relief supplies can be prepared
and sent as quickly as possible. Communications links also bring the news of such events
to the attention of the rest of the world, which can contribute to the relief effort and,
in the case of political refugees, exert pressure on governments to alleviate the
situation. Rwandan refugees crossing into Zaire |
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HF and VHF radio equipment is one of the mainstays of
international relief efforts. Used widely by every agency involved in humanitarian
assistance, radio systems are portable, and, most importantly, reliable and
disaster-resistant. Radiocommunications links often survive the kinds of natural disasters
- such as storms and earthquakes - which can leave other telecommunications equipment
disabled and out of action. Red Cross radio equipment |
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When rapid response is required, such as in the case of an
Earthquake, portable satellite telephones can provide international communications, even
if the public telephone network is no longer working. Teams equipped with satellite phones
can stay in touch, phoning-in damage reports to a central base or lodging requests for
assistance. The ability for team members to stay in constant contact throughout the search
and rescue operations can save many lives. Satellite
telephone equipment |
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United Nations peace-keeping forces radio contact with the
outside world during the crisis in the Former Yugoslavia. One of the most reliable
telecommunications technologies, radio is frequently used in international aid efforts
because of its resistance to damage and large installed user base. Forpronu in Sarajevo |
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United Nations peace-keepers are often called upon to
support international relief efforts. During the Bosnian crisis, the UN peace-keeping
forces played a key role in ensuring the security and functioning of the airport at
Sarajevo for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to that city and its environs. Radio equipment in Sarajevo airport tower run by the Forpronu |