Journal Title: ITU News

Journal Issue: (no. 4) 1997

Author: Pekka Tarjanne, Yasushi Akashi, and Jean-Philippe Maitre

Article Title: World Telecommunication Day 1997: Telecommunications and Humanitarian Assistance

Page number(s): pp. 21 -22

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© International Telecommunication Union

INSIDEINFO

World Telecommunication Day 1997 Telecommunications and humanitarian assistance

or World Telecommunication Day 1997, the Mobile satellite communication networks and

F Council of the ITU chose the theme "Telecom- advanced technologies such as the soon-to-be- munications and humanitarian assistance" launched satellite-based global mobile personal with the aim of highlighting the growing role of communications systems are excellent tools for ef- telecommunications in disaster mitigation and re- fective and coordinated management of interna- lief operations. The ITU -General, Pekka tional humanitarian aid. In addition, dramatic im- Tarjanne, has invited the organizations involved in provements in traditional means of communication international humanitarian assistance and the au- such as shortwave radio, mean that this technol- thorities of Geneva to ogy continues to play a closely cooperate in the valuable role in disaster 1 997 event. relief. These communica- The loss of communica- tion tools are also indis- tion links after a disaster pensable for the personal such as a cyclone, earth- safety and security of aid quake or war greatly ex- workers, who often risk acerbates the difficulties their lives in the dangerous for victims, as well as for situations created by dis- relief workers, who have asters. problems in ascertaining Good progress is also what kind of assistance is being made on ways to needed and where, in co- improve availability of ordinating their activities, such tools to governments and in getting information and relief agencies by the to victims and their fami- removal of regulatory bar- lies. Also, traditional riers which, in many cases, wireline telecommunica- still restrict the full use of tions infrastructure is the valuable new systems painstakingly slow — and which technological ad- often prohibitively costly vances have made avail- — to reconstruct. A long- able. term lack of basic commu- It is with great pleasure nications can be very dam- therefore, that we make aging for those affected by this first joint announce- a disaster, and the adverse ment for World Telecom- economic consequences Refugees walking the last two kilometres to the munication Day 1997,and can make it very difficult Nyamlrangwe Camp in Zaire extend an invitation to all for people to rebuild their (Photo: H. J. Davles/UNHCR) (ITU 970088) organizations, institutions lives. The International and commercial partners Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), involved in telecommunications in the service of 1990-2000, provides concepts to improve the dis- humanitarian assistance to join forces and partici- aster resistance of telecommunication infrastruc- pate in the promotion of the event. ture to optimize the use of telecommunications in World Telecommunication Day will be celebrated early warning. globally, involving the participation of hundreds of

ITU News 4/97 7 I INSIDEINFO

groups and organizations worldwide. In Geneva, Let us celebrate World Telecommunication Day in home to many telecommunications and humani- the spirit of cooperation as an important step to- tarian institutions, an Open Day will provide the wards the optimum application of telecommunica- opportunity for the public to experience the im- tions technology in that most noble of causes; the portant role of telecommunications in humanitarian alleviation of human suffering caused by disasters. work by establishing real-time links with other coun- The theme of World Telecommunication Day tries mounting similar Open Day events, and also 1997 is a message of hope, and underlines the with locations affected by humanitarian crises the humanitarian mission of Geneva as a world tele- world over. communications hub. Geneva, December 1996

for the International for the for the State Council Telecommunication Union Department of of the Republic Humanitarian Affairs and Canton of Geneva

PekkaTARJANNE Yasushi AKASHI Jean-Philippe MAITRE Secretary-General Under-Secretary-General President

World Telecommunication Day: mark your calendar!

t has become a tradition for the founding of The tent will be open to the public every day

I the International Telecommunication Union to from 17 to 22 May, from 10hOO to 19h00. Dem- be celebrated every year on 17 May, and activi- onstrations will be given all week long on the part ties centred around a specitic theme are organized that telecommunications play in disaster relief ef- worldwide to mark the occasion. The theme for forts. In particular, there will be presentations on 1 997, "Telecommunications and humanitarian as- the role of radioamateurs, short-wave voice and sistance", has been chosen to highlight the increas- data communications, UHF/VHF communications ingly important role that telecommunications play and satellite telecommunications with Inmarsat in disaster mitigation and relief efforts. terminals. This year's celebrations will begin on 15 May with As a hands-on experience, visitors will have the a press conference at Geneva City Hall given by Jean- opportunity to send and receive messages on a VHF Philippe MaTtre, President of the State Council of network. the Republic and Canton of Geneva, Yasushi Akashi, In addition, an Internet website has been set up, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations which visitors to the centre will be able to access Department of Humanitarian Affairs, and Pekka directly (http://www.fema.gov/itu-wtd97). Tarjanne, Secretary-General of the ITU. Also in conjunction with the celebrations, the A tent will be erected at the Place des Nations, International School of Geneva has organized a housing a temporary telecommunication centre. On drawing competition on the theme of this year's 1 6 May the centre will be formally inaugurated, in World Telecommunication Day. Winners will be a ceremony featuring a release of pigeons as a sym- announced early in May. bol of communications. The following two articles illustrate the WTD-97 A number of international organizations will be in theme and give a good insight into the importance attendance, among them the International Commit- of telecommunications in emergency situations and tee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, represented also into the difficulties which still remain when by its Department of Humanitarian Affairs, and ITU. providing assistance.

ITU News 4/97 tt