Connectivity for security and coordination in Iraq

Under the fumes of the burning oil fields surrounding Mosul and violent combats just a few miles away, TSF's team in Iraq has set up internet via VSAT for the humanitarian community in the town of Qayyarah.

Qayyarah is situated some 40 miles away from the city of Mosul, where combats continue to intensify day by day. It is estimated that three-quarters of people having fled Mosul will end up in camps to the south of the city, of which the largest, Qayyarah IDP Camp currently holds 1,200 families (6,120 individuals). Construction is underway in order to extend Qayyarah's capacity, with plans to house a further 6,000 families.

The connectivity that TSF has put in place will benefit the numerous NGOs and UN agencies working in this high-risk area, notably the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), co-leads of the Camp Coordination & Camp Management Cluster (CCCM).

The objective is to enhance coordination between Qayyarah, Erbil and Baghdad, and minimise the physical movements of humanitarian workers, thus ensuring their security. Multiple access points mean that reports and assessments can be sent from different parts of the town, and continue to respond to the needs of the thousands of people that arrive weekly.