Vanuatu: Cyclone Pam Aftermath – ITU deploys emergency communication equipment

ITU has deployed emergency telecommunication equipment to Vanuatu following the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam, a category 5 tropical storm which hit the archipelago on Friday, 13 March.

The Union dispatched 40 satellite phones, 10 Broadband Global Area Network terminals and 35 solar panels to the Island nation to support relief coordination efforts.

“The frequency and intensity of disasters is increasing worldwide with a disproportionate impact on developing countries,” said ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao. “We are working with our partners to increase the capacity of Member States to integrate ICTs in their disaster risk reduction policies. ITU is also encouraging governments, especially those in developing countries, to invest in telecommunication infrastructure that is resilient to disasters.”

ITU recently participated in the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. The Union has addressed the importance of linking information and communication technologies to disaster risk reduction. ITU considers emergency telecommunications an integral part of the post-2015 development agenda.