On September 28th, at the request of UNDAC (United Nation Disaster Assessment and Coordination), TSF deployed to the Philippines responding to the two devastating typhoons which killed more than 700 people and affected up to 6 million in 8 regions of the country.
The Philippines faced huge telecommunication damages, mobile network did not work or only partially, which made the aid coordination even harder.
TSF responded to the emergency both to support coordination and provide communications to aid agencies. The objective was to provide a telecom support to relief workers at the heart of the affected area, and to reinforce the rescue coordination in the field, in order to increase the impact of emergency response.
At the same time, TSF ran humanitarian calling operations, offering free 3-minute national and international calls to those affected.
The mission ended on October 26th.
TELECOM CENTERS
At the request of the NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council), TSF teams set up communications at the Humanitarian Communications Centre at the NDCC headquarters, located in Aguinaldo Camp and provide ICT support in the affected area.
TSF also provided ICT support to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination teams (UNDAC) deployed to Region I, II and III in the aftermath of Typhoon Parma.
TSF set up dedicated satellite-based Internet, phone and fax lines at the On-Site Operations Coordinating Centre (OSOCC) based at the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in Tuguegarao (the capital of Region II) to support field assessments and coordination.
TSF established another telecom center in Tarlac, Pangasinan province, in collaboration with UNDAC teams.
TSF also provided ICT support to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination teams (UNDAC) deployed to Region I, II and III in the aftermath of Typhoon Parma.
TSF set up dedicated satellite-based Internet, phone and fax lines at the On-Site Operations Coordinating Centre (OSOCC) based at the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in Tuguegarao (the capital of Region II) to support field assessments and coordination.
TSF established another telecom center in Tarlac, Pangasinan province, in collaboration with UNDAC teams.
HUMANITARIAN CALLING OPERATIONS
TSF travelled throughout the region affected and set up temporary phoning centers in villages, neighborhoods and cities where commercial networks have been knocked out. TSF offered reliable and adapted solutions according to the needs of the populations and to each particular situation: progressive re-establishment of telecommunication networks (land lines/GSM) and power in some areas, electricity unavailable in other places because of the inundations, preventing people from charging their mobile phones.
In Metro Manila region, TSF’s phoning services took place in Cainta, Pasig, Taguig and Marikina cities. In Pangasinan Province, calling operations were held in Paniqui, Rosales, Balungao, Santa Maria, San Nicolas, Tayug and Umingan cities.
In total, 1072 calls were made and 689 families could talk to a loved one.
In addition, for the first time, TSF has opened a priority Internet access for the affected populations, providing both phone calls and Internet connection in Pangasinan province. This extra service aimed at allowing affected populations to communicate with many of their relatives at the same time and to send emails to those they could not reach on the phone.
Less than 24 hours after NDCC request, TSF was operational in Manila. TSF could respond to two typhoons in 3 affected regions and stood to support coordination efforts with the threat of the coming tropical storm, Lupit. It was expected to intensify further before entering the Philippines and to sweep Northern and Central Luzon. Fortunately, Lupit weakened to tropical storm as it approached Luzon, then changing its path and heading north.
It was the fifth time TSF deployed to Philippines.
How a simple call made a difference in their lives
Owa, aged 82, has been living alone since her children travelled to the United States. During first typhoon Ketsana, her house was swept away by mudslides in Baguio, a town located 10 kms far from the city of Rosales, where she is now staying, housed by neighbors’ friends. TSF enabled Owa to talk to her son living in California, alert him on her conditions and needs and ask for financial help. TSF also thought it was important to give her a mobile recharge card, so that she can call her son after TSF’s departure.
In Marikina city, Manila, Joy, a local volunteer who participated in the calling operations, lives 2 metres away from the river. The 2 first floors of her house were inundated. 29 people (including 16 kids) took shelter to the 3rd floor, before the arrival of rescue teams. As the typhoon cut the electricity in the area, she did not have battery on her mobile phone. Her mother lives in Sidney, and thanks to the priority call she made at the phoning centre, she was able to ask for money for her family and for herself.
An old man, who had been staying in an evacuation centre after the first typhoon, was able to make a call to his family, sheltered in another camp. They had been separated during the emergency evacuation.
Leony Grouba, lost her house and has no money. She hopes that her brother Cesar, working in Qatar, will be able to send her money. She was not able to call him since she had neither credit, nor battery to charge her mobile phone. Thanks to the services TSF implemented and this priority call, she was able to speak to her brother who will send some money to her.
An old man, who had been staying in an evacuation centre after the first typhoon, was able to make a call to his family, sheltered in another camp. They had been separated during the emergency evacuation.
Leony Grouba, lost her house and has no money. She hopes that her brother Cesar, working in Qatar, will be able to send her money. She was not able to call him since she had neither credit, nor battery to charge her mobile phone. Thanks to the services TSF implemented and this priority call, she was able to speak to her brother who will send some money to her.
