ITU
restores
communication
links
in
Indonesia
disaster
zones
1
November
2010
ITU
has
deployed
a
hybrid
of
40
broadband
satellite
terminals
in
an
effort
to
restore
vital
communication
links
in
the
aftermath
of a
tsunami
triggered
by a
7.7-magnitude
earthquake
and
a
volcanic
eruption
that
hit
the
Indonesian
archipelago
in
two
separate
incidents.
As
aid
and
rescue
workers
battle
rough
weather
and
difficult
terrain
to
reach
tsunami
victims
in
the
remote
Mentawi
islands
off
Sumatra,
Mount
Merapi
continues
to
spew
super-heated
gas
and
debris
on
villages
in
Central
Java.
The
natural
disasters
have
wreaked
havoc,
causing
untold
death
and
destruction
in
their
wake.
ITU
Secretary-General
Hamadoun
Touré
expressed
his
solidarity
with
the
people
of
Indonesia
and
offered
his
condolences
to
the
bereaved
victims
of
the
disaster.
“The
loss
of
life
and
destruction
of
property
as a
result
of
two
natural
disasters
is a
matter
of
deep
concern
and
I
offer
my
heartfelt
condolences
to
the
victims
and
to
the
people
of
Indonesia,”
Dr
Touré
said.
“ITU
will
do
its
utmost
to
provide
assistance
to
people
in
the
disaster-affected
areas
by
re-establishing
telecommunication
links
which
will
be
vital
in
the
rescue
and
rehabilitation
efforts
in
the
days
ahead.”
Re-establishing
communications
is a
critical
tool
in
disaster
management
to
ensure
timely
dissemination
of
authoritative
information
to
government
entities
and
aid
agencies
involved
in
rescue
and
rehabilitation
efforts.
ITU
is
working
with
emergency
communications
partners
Iridium
Communications
Inc.,
Thuraya,
and
Inmarsat
to
ensure
connectivity
for
satellite
handsets,
which
will
be
used
by
local
authorities
to
facilitate
humanitarian
assistance
to
disaster
victims.
ITU
has
also
put
on
standby
a
Qualcomm
Deployable
Base
Station
(QDBS),
a
reliable,
responsive
and
complete
cellular
system
designed
to
enable
vital
wireless
communications
aimed
at
strengthening
response
and
recovery
mechanisms
in a
disaster
zone.
ITU
pays
for
the
transportation
of
the
equipment
and
for
the
air-time.
Mr
Sami
Al
Basheer
Al
Morshid,
Director
of
ITU’s
Telecommunication
Development
Bureau
expressed
his
sorrow
at
the
loss
of
life
resulting
from
the
twin
disasters.
He
said,
“I
am
deeply
shocked
by
the
death
and
destruction
caused
by
the
tsunami
and
volcanic
eruptions
that
have
hit
Indonesia
simultaneously.
This
is a
matter
of
grave
concern,
and
ITU
has
despatched
the
forty
broadband
satellite
terminals
in
an
effort
to
rapidly
establish
emergency
communications
to
assist
in
search
and
rescue
operations
and
to
coordinate
logistics
on
the
ground.”
