Pau, June 9th, 2009 - A team of experts in emergency telecommunications deployed on May 22nd to Peshawar, in the war-torn region of North West Pakistan. In collaboration with United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations on site, and facing difficult security conditions, TSF has started its mission to support the displaced people and the humanitarian community.
The conflict between government troops and the Taliban insurgents continues in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
According to the latest registration information available, nearly 2.5 million people are estimated to have fled fighting since 2008. Leaving behind them all their possessions, displaced people have travelled dozens of kilometers to take refuge outside the combat zones.
Over 20 refugee camps are installed in the six districts of the region. Humanitarian assistance is trying to organize to supply food, water and shelters to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Water and sanitation conditions in those camps need urgent attention to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
A number of "humanitarian hubs" are also being set up to provide help to people who are staying outside of the camps, the majority of IDPs, and who have settled with family, friends or host communities. The strain on the host communities are huge, with schools being converted into temporary shelters and medical clinics facing overwhelming demand.
Facing this terrible humanitarian tragedy - the largest and the swiftest displacement of people to take place anywhere in the world in recent years - Pakistan's President called, on May 12th, for urgent and massive international help for those left homeless by fighting.
TSF has been granted permission by the Emergency Response Unit (NWFP government) to start its operations on 8 June 2009. TSF signed an agreement with local NGO Youth Resources Centre (YRC) and started running Humanitarian Calling Operations in Mardan district the same day.
20 team members have been recruited and divided in 6 teams to cover the camps and humanitarian hubs. The action is starting in Mardan, but the objective is also to cover other districts as soon as possible where IDPs are sheltered. International calls are offered in the camps, since IDPs only had access to local calls up to now. Civilians in the humanitarian hubs are being provided with free national and international calls. Separate services dedicated to women will be set up, in and outside the camps, enabling them to contact their relatives in Pakistan or abroad.
Unlike in past emergencies (Kashmir earthquake in 2005 and Balochistan earthquake in Nov. 2008), the local infrastructure has not been damaged and TSF is using a Pakistani mobile operator.
TSF's team is in close contact with United Nations agencies on site to explore ways that TSF can help in supporting the humanitarian community with data communications. On June 1st, our experts carried out a joint assessment with UNICEF in the Mardan district as well as within the UN Habitat and in collaboration with the district commissioner. Data communications needs have been identified, such as the necessity of back-up solutions in the event that DSL broadband connections fail. An action plan will be established for an effective implementation of the support to the humanitarian community.
To reinforce the operations of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), TSF provided GPRS connections, enabling a mobile access to the Internet and email.
In addition, TSF is providing satellite-based mobile communications to the local NGO Philantrope for a duration of 4 months. The NGO is working in rural areas of the Malakand district, which are not covered by GSM.
Due to security conditions, humanitarian organizations are unable to access civilians in Districts other than Mardan and Swabi. TSF is on stand-by to deploy to those areas not covered by local telecommunications networks and to provide the organizations satellite-based mobile telecommunications
Security conditions are a still a concern, and the humanitarian community in Pakistan faces huge challenges to prepare effective interventions while kidnapping and terrorists' attacks are still common. Humanitarian organizations are doing their best to ensure the security of their international and local staff.
Given the context in this torn war country, we believe that longer term actions will be needed. No one knows how long the emergency will last and when the IDPs will able to return home.
The mission is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, Vizada, AT&T, Cable and Wireless, PCCW Global, the Communauté d'Agglomération de Pau, and the Conseil Régional d'Aquitaine.
About Télécoms Sans Frontières
Télécoms Sans Frontières: the leading humanitarian NGO specialised in emergency telecommunications
With its 24-hour monitoring centre and relying on its operational bases in Europe, Central America and Asia, Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) crews of IT and telecoms specialists can intervene anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours. After a sudden onset disaster or conflict, they can set up in a matter of minutes a satellite-based telecoms centre offering broadband Internet, phone and fax lines. These centres enable emergency NGOs, the United Nations and local authorities to communicate right at the heart of a crisis. They also facilitate the coordination of aid efforts. In parallel, TSF runs humanitarian calling operation to offer support and assistance to affected civilians, giving them a link with the outside world from which they would be otherwise completely cut off.
Since its creation in 1998, TSF deployed to nearly 60 countries and assisted almost 500 relief organisations and millions of victims. In 2006, TSF became a partner of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). TSF is First Responder of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC).
Télécoms Sans Frontières is also a working group member of the United Nations emergency telecoms body (WGET). TSF is a partner of the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO) and a member of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).
TELECOMS SANS FRONTIERES
+33 (0)5 59 84 43 60 - +33 (0)5 59 84
43 58
communication@tsfi.org
www.tsfi.org