Floods - TSF deploys to support UN

Pau, 17 September 2007 - Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) deployed a crew of emergency telecommunication specialists on Friday to Ghana to support the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination teams (UNDAC) following the heavy floods which are currently affecting the country. TSF’s team took off from its France-based headquarters on Friday and landed the same day in Accra, the capital of Ghana. TSF’s crew is carrying IT and satellite communications equipment to deploy emergency communication centres.

According to the government’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), floods have affected close to 275,000 people in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of the country. Parts of the Western Region have also been affected. At least 20 people have been killed. The United Nations is currently running assessments in the affected areas to confirm the NADMO information and identify the needs of affected civilians.

In coordination with UNDAC, TSF already supervised the installation of a first communication centre in Accra. Monday morning, TSF’s crew arrived in Tamale, focal point for aid coordination in the Northern regions of the country and could deploy one or several additional emergency satellite-based communication centres for all rescue teams involved in disaster relief. Technical assistance will also be provided.

This mission in supported by the Vodafone Group Foundation (VGF), the United Nations Foundation and TSF’s other corporate partners: Inmarsat, France Telecom, Eutelsat, AT&T, Vizada and Cable & Wireless. This is TSF’s seventh emergency mission this year. TSF is still deployed in Peru, following the devastating earthquake which hit the country on August 15th and is operating in Nicaragua since September 5th to strengthen relief efforts after Hurricane Felix.