BDT Director's Corner: News

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has dispatched emergency telecommunication equipment to Malawi which has been recently affected by severe flooding.

ITU has deployed 28 units of Thuraya XT satellite phones to support relief coordination efforts.

Earlier this month, the Government of Malawi declared a State of Emergency in 15 districts (out of a total of 28) following the heavy rains which have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges while farmland and homes have been submerged and people forced to move to higher ground.

"ITU is committed to assisting Member States restore telecommunication links in the aftermath of disasters to facilitate humanitarian response in support of the affected populations," says Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "It is my hope that the emergency telecommunication equipment provided to Malawi by ITU will successfully contribute to relief and recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding."

The ITU Telecommunication Development Sector considers emergency telecommunication an integral part of its development agenda for the post-2015 period.