On October 25th 2010, an earthquake followed by a devastating tsunami struck the Mentawai Islands, a group of four large islands – Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara and Pagai Seletan - situated off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.
A TSF team was immediately deployed to Indonesia from its regional base in Bangkok, Thailand, at the request of the Office of the President of Indonesia and in coordination with the Indonesian government’s disaster management agency (BNPB). TSF deployment was facilitated by ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
In addition to the immediate assistance provided after the disaster, TSF worked in partnership with the European Commission (ECHO) to reinforce the islands’ disaster response system by providing emergency telecom kits to local relief organizations and training them in its use. The Mentawai Islands are located in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions and any improvement to the communication system will have a direct impact on saving lives and providing timely assistance during future disasters.
Published by: TÉLÉCOMS SANS FRONTIÈRES
Full Article: http://www.tsfi.org/en/action/emergencies/137-indonesie-tsf-renforce-le-systeme-de-reponse-a-lurgence
