An emergency crew from Télécoms Sans Frontières' Asian base is operational with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Manila and is deploying to the island of Catanduanes in the affected zone. TSF's team should deploy one or several Telecom Centres to facilitate the flow of information from the field, enable the transmission of the initial assessments and therefore better respond to the needs of affected populations.
In coordination with NDCC, TSF is currently assessing the situation in telecommunications in the regions affected by Typhoon Durian and the large mudslide which, according to the latest toll, killed 1 000. On Catanduanes island, almost 8 000 families have been seriously affected and more than 10 000 houses destroyed. Electricity and communications have been cut off slowing the intervention of relief teams.
TSF is ready to send more teams from its regional base in Bangkok and headquarters in France, depending on the needs.
Since the beginning of the year, this is the second time TSF deploys to the Philippines. In February, TSF intervened on Leyte island following the heavy mudslide which killed 1 000. It is also the eight mission of TSF in 2006.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
