TSF – key players in Malagasy government disaster simulation

The scene is set – at 6:00am sharp, the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management of Madagascar (BNGRC) sends out the green alert for cyclone simulation. All the teams on the ground, including UNOCHA, UNICEF, the National Civil Protection Corps, the Vodafone Foundation, CARE and local operator Telma are in the observational phase and at 9:00am the red alert is announced.

The simulation, taking place in the town of Brickaville in Eastern Madagascar, aims to improve the emergency response capacities of the BNGRC and the Malagasy government in an area of the world hit regularly by devastating cyclones. Let’s take ourselves back to 2012, when the category-4 Cyclone Giovanna hit the island. Over 670,000 people were affected and 150,000 uprooted, with entire towns and villages completely wiped off the map.

Simulations are critical in avoiding history repeating itself and telecommunications play a vital role in this response capacity. Back in Brickaville, it is now 10:00am, the villagers have been evacuated by boat, the mobile and terrestrial networks are down and the initial stages of first response are getting underway. In order to facilitate the response of its fellow NGOs, TSF has set up a telecoms coordination centre using satellite phones and terminals in the heart of the affected area and is now proceeding to put in place the Vodafone Foundation Instant Network and Instant Network Mini - an innovative mobile network solution developed by TSF and the Vodafone Foundation. The Instant Networks allow the provision of emergency telecom services to affected populations and relief teams in crisis situations. It was created to be easily transportable so that it can be taken anywhere in the world, on the first flight available, and provide a fully operative GSM network in a matter of hours.

Télécoms Sans Frontières was invited to participate in this disaster simulation by the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management of Madagascar and the Telma Foundation. An efficient, effective and coordinated response requires reliable and dependable communications. TSF believes in regular preparedness and is integrated in the national response mechanisms in Haiti, the Philippines and Indonesia through prepositioned emergency response equipment kits and training sessions.

For more information on TSF emergency preparedness, visit: http://www.tsfi.org/en/action/emergency-response