Haiti

A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Saturday 14 August. TSF deployed a team from its headquarters to provide humanitarian assistance in the affected area.

After the hurricane, the most affected cities of Jérémie and Les Cayes were deprived of contact with the outside world. TSF teams were on hand to provide the essential communications to rescue teams and residents.

8 months after the devastating earthquake of 2010, an assessment conducted by TSF highlighted the need to strengthen the national response mechanism from a telecommunications perspective. Three emergency kits were pre-positioned in partnership with the National Association of the Scouts of Haiti in Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and Cap Haitien.

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti is a humanitarian crisis that remains engraved in the memories of people across the globe. With more than 220,000 fatalities, and over 1 million people left without a roof over their heads, relief efforts were titanic. With the support of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations body (ECHO), TSF provided satellite telecommunications support for the humanitarian response community, including the government and the United Nations, whilst working to provide communications services for thousands of families.

TSF supported satellite communications and IT resource centres for humanitarian emergency operations following four hurricanes in Haiti.

Cyclone Jeanne hit Haiti on 18th September. Two days of heavy rains led to serious flooding in North West Haiti, principally affecting the town of Gonaives. At the time of the disaster, TSF was already mobilised on the island of Grenada since 13th September. A TSF team arrived on Haiti on 24th September and had be augmented one week later. The team was from this date operational to bring help and support to the victims as well as local and international NGOs.

TSF deployed to the Dominican Republic and Haiti following devastating floods to create emergency communications centres for relief agencies and the affected population

Although it is difficult to prevent risks, the preparation and investment in effective response mechanisms at regional and national levels limit the impact of humanitarian disasters. Haiti being regularly threatened by natural disasters, the collaboration between TSF and ANSH is part of an effective emergency response strategy.