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Global climate change, rising sea levels, rapid global population growth and urbanization – these are some of the factors that have contributed to an increase in the severity and number of natural and man-made disasters in recent years. Prevention is better than cure, so goes the old adage. Zero tolerance to vulnerabilities, and high resilience are a good starting point. Well planned preparedness contributes to disaster risk reduction efforts that will reduce the impact of disasters when they strike and will also result in better and well planned response. This is in terms of the technology, regulatory and legal frameworks, and standard operating procedures.
Advanced ICTs like wireless and satellite communication systems, remote sensing systems and satellite imaging can make a real difference during those first crucial hours and days, scoping out the extent of damage, helping locate survivors, measuring danger for rescue teams, and ensuring humanitarian response crews can communicate effectively with their team members, with other agencies working onsite, with local hospitals and paramedics, and with the victims.
ITU has long been a champion of emergency telecommunications. Through each of its main sectors –Radiocommunication (ITU-R), Standardization (ITU-T) and Development (ITU-D) – ITU invests considerable resources, time and energy into the continued development and deployment of these vital services and infrastructure.
"It has become clear that no country is immune to disasters. And when disaster strikes, keeping the lines of communications open is critical."
Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary-General
ITU has a long and successful history of developing international standards (beginning with the Morse code) to todays Common Alerting Protocol), providing radio-frequency spectrum and defining agreed global standards for wired and wireless networks and the applications that can play such a critical role in disaster response.
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Tampere Convention
The Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations provides the legal framework for the cross-border movement and use of telecommunications resources in international humanitarian assistance, reduces regulatory barriers, and protects providers of telecommunication assistance, while safeguarding the interests of the host country. ITU was a key player in drafting this Convention and supporting the negotiations that led to its finalization in 1988. It came into effect on 8 January 2005. It has been ratified by 43 countries, with more countries coming on board every year.
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ITU-R: Help from above
All too often, one of the first casualties of large-scale disasters – be they natural catastrophes or man-made calamities like war – is ground-based telecommunications infrastructure. That’s when radiocommunications really come into their own, providing the vital links between on-the-ground aid teams, governments and health care facilities.
Advanced satellite remote sensing and imaging systems and satellite radiocommunication systems can make a real difference during those first crucial hours and days. They assist in quickly assessing the extent of damage, help locate survivors, measure the potential danger for rescue teams and ensure that humanitarian response crews can communicate effectively with their team members, with other agencies working onsite, with local hospitals and paramedics, and with the victims.
Radiocommunications are not only vital during relief operations, but are also extremely important even before a disaster happens, enabling the prediction and detection of possible events and alerting all those who may be concerned.
As the steward of the global framework for spectrum and satellite orbits, ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) provides for the necessary radio-frequency spectrum and orbit resources for terrestrial and space emergency radiocommunication systems. ITU-R not only helps develop and manage binding international treaties like the Radio Regulations, the sector is an active developer of international voluntary standards (ITU-R Recommendations), providing a solid regulatory and technical basis for the development and operation of emergency radiocommunication systems.
The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) held in Geneva in 2007 advocated the development of spectrum management guidelines for radiocommunication in emergency and disaster relief as well as the identification and maintenance of available frequencies for use in the very early stages of humanitarian assistance intervention in the aftermath of disaster. This new online database will assist administrations, national regulatory authorities, disaster relief agencies and organizations with their emergency communication preparedness activities by providing data of currently available frequencies for use in times of crisis.
ITU-T: Not just your standard stuff in emergency situations
ITU’s technical standards for telecommunications play a very strategic role in ensuring global interconnection and interoperability for monitoring and management in disaster or emergency situations. Standards for call-priority schemes that ensure relief workers get access to communication lines, whether using tradition or next-generation communications networks are now available. Timely early warnings that are delivered uncorrupted from the source to the end user are now possible thanks to well-developed technical standards. Another project, the Common Alert Protocol, seeks to make the simultaneous delivery of early warnings quicker and easier through a hybrid of networks and systems.
ITU-D: ICTs to the rescue
The development arm of the ITU considers emergency telecommunications an integral part of its projects integrating telecommunications and ICT in disaster predication, detection, and alerting. The ITU-D has a long history of helping countries build capacity to enhance their disaster preparedness in the pre-disaster period, including the design of appropriate national emergency telecommunications plans.
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Most recent ITU assistance in emergency situations around the world:
Uganda, August 2011: Following floods and mudslides in eastern and north eastern Uganda, ITU deployed satellite terminals and provided assistance in national emergency telecommunciations planning. A project document was drafted on early warning systems to be deployed as a pilot in the country.
Cabo Verde, July 2011: In response to volcanic eruption by Mt. Fogo, ITU deployed satellite terminals to Cape Verde. Further, assistance was provided in national emergency telecommunications planning.
Japan, March 2011: Following the devastating earthquake, ITU dispatched 78 Thuraya satellite phones equipped with GPS to areas severely affected by the tsunami along with 13 Iridium satellite phones as well as 37 Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network terminals to facilitate search and rescue efforts.
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Thanks to strong co-financing partnerships negotiated and forged as part of disaster preparedness, the ITU-D is able to help countries get back on their feet quickly following a disaster. ITU not only dispatches easily transportable satellite terminals to the affected country with fully financed airtime to be used by humanitarian personnel and organizations in their search and rescue efforts, but also helps in assessing the damage to telecommunications infrastructure and restoring these networks in the shortest possible time.
An ongoing commitment to effective disaster response
ITU is constantly pushing forward with new Recommendations and building global consensus on a more effective disaster response through ICT. In December 2007, ITU hosted a Global Forum on the Effective Use of ICT in Disaster Management, which brought together over 300 representatives from government, international organizations, private sector partners and NGOs. The event sought to map out concrete strategies and adopt practical measures aimed at harnessing the potential of ICTs during all phases of disaster management. This event launched ITU’s Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies, which is designed to expedite the availability of ICT resources for rapid disaster response A regional forum was held in El Salvador in 2009 to assist countries in enhancing their disaster preparedness through the use of ICT. In July 2010, a regional forum for Asia and the Pacific region which brought member states, sector members and other stakeholders together, was held in Mongolia. A meeting for the African region on climate change adaptation, e-waste management and emergency telecommunications was organized by ITU and the Government of Ghana in July 2011 and it attracted participants from governments, private sector, regulatory authorities, NGOs and academia. On 29 August 2011, a workshop on emergency telecommunications was co-organized by CITEL and ITU and was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The event attracted participants from the Americas region and focused on how the region could enhance their use of ICT for public protection.
Global cooperation
ITU has established strategic partnerships with other UN agencies such as the WMO, IMO and ICAO,and contributes to the work of the United Nations Working Group on Emergency (WGET).. ITU also cooperates actively with international and national space agencies and other specialist organizations involved in emergency telecommunications. At national level, ITU works closely with telecommunication regulatory authorities, disaster management authorities, meteo offices and other humanitarian actors. ITU is contributing to the ongoing United Nations negotiations on climate change leading to the Durban UN Climate Change Conference to be held in November and December 2011.
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