ITU joins international effort to assist Haiti

ITU joins the international effort to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake on 12 January 2010. 40 satellite terminals are being deployed immediately to re-establish basic communication links and a further 60 units with broadband facility are being dispatched along with experts to operate them. ITU will also set up a Qualcomm Deployable Base Station (QDBS), a complete cellular system designed to enable vital wireless communications aimed at strengthening response and recovery mechanisms in a disaster zone. ITU has allocated a budget of over USD 1 million to strengthen the disaster response effort in Haiti. Hamadoun Touré, secretary-general, ITU, offered his condolences to the bereaved victims of the disaster,"The whole world is in shock following the devastation and untold misery caused by the earthquake in Haiti. ITU will do everything possible to provide assistance to the people of Haiti by re-establishing telecommunication links which will be vital in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the days ahead." Dr Touré also called upon ITU Sector Members and other ICT companies to urgently assist ITU's efforts to reinstate telecommunications in Haiti.

The worst earthquake in the region in over 200 years levelled Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital as well as other towns and villages in the country leaving several thousands dead and injured.