Telecoms Sans Frontieres Deploys Emergency Relief to Peru Earthquake Site

Lima and the coastline of Peru were shaken on Wednesday evening by a massive quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. According to reports, the death toll has risen above 500 at last count, with hundreds injured. The Prime Minister, Jorge Del Castillo, has declared that he fears the death toll will increase as the authorities are having difficulty contacting several regions affected by the earthquake.

Telecoms Sans Frontieres' (TSF) European and Latin American bases are on stand-by and have followed this situation from the first hours. Following numerous problems with the matter of telecommunications, TSF is rushing to send a team from the base at Managua.

According to their Web site, "TSF plays a key role in strengthening coordination and communication by deploying telecommunications centers within 48 hours of an emergency. These centers offer broadband Internet access, voice communications, fax lines and all the IT equipment needed for a field office."

TSF's Emergency relief team will transport satellite communication equipment as well as computer equipment, so that if the need exists they can set up one or several communication centers to provide internet connections, telephone lines and fax. TSF would also be able to lead operations in humanitarian telephony.

Following coordination meetings with other organizations in the field, TSF will deploy three telecommunication centers. The first one will open in Pisco. Two other centers will be set up in Ica and Chincha. First assessments for humanitarian calling operations will be done in the same time.

Depending on the progress of the situation in the following hours, TSF will be able to send reinforcements from its American and European bases.