Nepal Earthquake Cluster Brief EMERGENCY August 2015 TELECOMMUNICATIONS (ETC) Credit: M. Hall / WFP RESPONSE ACTIVITIES & KEY FIGURES CONSTRAINTS Prior to the 25 April and 12 May earthquakes, the 1,400+ 14 140+ humanitarian community in Nepal had been develop- responders sites providing humaniitarian ing contingencies and pre-positioning supplies including registered to use shared internet organisations emergency telecommunications equipment for a possible ETC services connectivity benefi t from ETC earthquake in the Kathmandu Valley. As a result of these support preparedness initiatives, the Cluster was able to quickly mobilise to respond. FUNDING STATUS As a common service to support the overall humanitar- Source: Financial Tracking Service (as of 23 July 2015) ian response, the Cluster is providing shared internet connectivity services in 14 sites across three common operating areas in Gorkha (Gorkha District), Chautara 2 million 52% (Sindhupalchowk District) and Charikot (Dolakha District). US$ required funded Over 1,400 users from more than 250 humanitarian 1.1 million organisations have registered to use services pro- US$ received vided by the Cluster. Dedicated ETC teams have been deployed across the most affected areas of the earth- quake in Nepal with responders from CMC Finland, emer- gency.lu, Ericsson Response, NetHope, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, RedR, the World Food ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST TARGETS Programme and local partners. 91% achieved 100% achieved The Cluster works closely with national internet and Organisations No. of sites mobile service providers to ensure fast delivery of com- receiving services providing access munication services to humanitarian partners. from ETC and to voice and data responding to a user communications survey rate service services During the monsoon season it is expected that accessi- satisfaction (Target: (Target: 12) bility to ETC sites and potential disruption of its telecom- 80% or above) munication services will hamper the ongoing response. As part of the ETC’s objectives, the Cluster is building local capacity to ensure the sustainability of its deployed 50% achieved 10% achieved services and solutions in Nepal. With a focus on pre- No. of sites provided No. of technical paredness, the ETC is developing a full report based access to security humanitarian staff on the outcome of the ICT emergency response work- communications trained to ensure shop held together with the Ministry of Information & services sustainability of Communications in June. From this, the ETC will help to (Target: 6) deployed ETC services and develop an operational plan that will be implemented in solutions response to future emergencies. (Target: 42) Government lead: Mr. Kabiraj Khanal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications Co-lead: Ms. Caroline Teyssier, Cluster Coordinator ([email protected]) http://ictemergency.wfp.org/web/ictepr/emergencies2015/nepal EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATIONS MAP PRIORITY ACTIONS 1. Provision of shared internet connectivity services to the response community in four additional sites using ETC equipment. 2. Establishment of security communications networks in up to four additional sites for use by the response com- munity, including UN, NGOs and other humanitarian organisations. 3. Continued coordination of ICT activities with partner organizations, commercial actors and government au- thorities. 4. Build capacity within the technical humanitarian community to ensure sustainability of deployed services and solutions. 5. Ongoing collaboration with Nepali authorities and implementation of capacity building efforts to support the current emergency and build resilience for future disasters. INDICATORS & TARGETS 80% organizations receiving services from ETC and responding to a user survey rate service satisfaction 12 sites provided access to voice and data communications services 6 sites provided access to security communications services 42 technical humanitarian staff trained to ensure sustainability of deployed ETC services and solutions Government lead: Mr. Kabiraj Khanal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications Co-lead: Ms. Caroline Teyssier, Cluster Coordinator ([email protected]) http://ictemergency.wfp.org/web/ictepr/emergencies2015/nepal .