Welcome to issue 95 of the Call to Comms!
This week, we give you an overview of TSF’s response to the earthquake in Myanmar. Also: a charity run for TSF, and World Telecom Day coming up.
TSF Response After the Earthquake in Myanmar
On March 28, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock, killing more than 3,500 people and causing important damages to infrastructure, affecting communications.
Communications are essential for coordinating relief and recovery operations after a disaster like this. TSF deployed to provide essential communications to affected people and the rescue teams.
Support to Disaster Assessment and Coordination On the Ground
In Mandalay, the city closest to the earthquake’s epicenter,
→ TSF was integrated into the United Nations’ Disaster Assessment and coordination (UNDAC) teams and provided emergency telecommunications expertise.
→ TSF assured reliable connectivity as UNDAC coordinated the humanitarian response and assessed communities’ needs.
→ TSF then donated emergency communication equipment to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to continue supporting the coordination of aid activities.
Inès Guittonneau
Supporting Regional Response
→ TSF has been involved for several years in the South East Asia response mechanism in partnership with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).
→ Remotely, TSF supported regional response through the AHA Centre, coordinating with them as they deployed emergency telecommunication equipment donated by TSF in a previous project.
International Telecoms Week: Mobilization to Support TSF’s Work
This week, the global telecoms and ICT industry meets at ITW (International Telecommunication Week), in Maryland. In between meetings and events, many attendees participated this morning in a charity run in support of TSF, to help provide emergency telecommunications services to people affected by humanitarian crises.
Congratulations to all of those who ran for this shared cause, and thank you to all who participated, from running to donating!
ITW is organized by techoraco, and the run is supported by PCCW Global | Console Connect, both partners of TSF.
If you wish, you can still donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/itw-team-2025
In case you missed it: World Telecom Day: What Is The Impact Of Telecommunications On Humanitarian Work?
Next week, on May 17, we will celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The aim is to raise awareness on the potential of digital technologies for social change.
We have been using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to meet humanitarian needs since 1998; we compiled a few ways ICTs can be used in humanitarian action.
Read the article here to discover or rediscover some of these uses.
Inès Guittonneau
See you in two weeks!
Member discussion