ITU deployed on 2 April 2015, emergency telecommunication equipment to the Federated States of Micronesia following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maysak which hit the islands on 30 March.
The government declared a state of emergency on the islands of Chuuk and Yap where the typhoon caused extensive damage to private and public properties including schools and health facilities. Damage to electricity supply infrastructure also disrupted telecommunication services.
At the request of His Excellency, Mr Mani Mori, President of Micronesia, ITU deployed 30 units of Thuraya XT satellite phones, 5 Inmarsat satellite data terminals and 25 Solar Panels to support relief coordination efforts.
President Mori said that the Government was reacting very quickly to the emergency situation "in order to prevent further damage to lives and properties especially in the low-lying areas across Chuuk."
"ITU recognizes the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States to extreme levels of devastation resulting from natural disasters and is formulating comprehensive strategies and measures for providing assistance to these countries to help mitigate and respond to disasters," said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau.
"It is my hope that the emergency telecommunications equipment provided to Micronesia by ITU will successfully contribute to relief and recovery efforts in the areas devastated by tropical cyclone Maysak," he added.
Tropical Cyclone Maysak comes at a time when the implementation of the Pacific Islands Connectivity Project which was launched by ITU at the Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States has reached a very advanced stage. The project seeks to provide connectivity for the islands as part of disaster risk reduction and socio-economic development leading to sustainable development.
