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Communication Critical to Relief in Haiti
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Posted by Dr. William A. Brindley
Chief Executive Officer, NetHope
Dr. William A. Brindley
Over the past ten days, the world’s response to the devastation in Haiti has been truly inspiring. The question of “Can we respond?” has been answered with continued outpouring of support. Doubt has been replaced with mobilized action.
The lifeblood of this response is communication. Phone and Internet connectivity are essential to effectively coordinate the delivery of aid and ensure that food, water, shelter, medical care and other essentials are directed appropriately. But the already frail technology infrastructure in Port-au-Prince was rendered all but useless by the earthquake, making it nearly impossible to communicate within the region or coordinate with the outside world.
The mission of NetHope is to help ensure that international humanitarian organizations have access to the best information and communication technology and practices when serving people in the developing world. To overcome the enormity of the challenges in Haiti, NetHope – in partnership with its NGO member agencies and the United Nations Emergency Telecom Cluster - dispatched a team of engineers to set up a telecommunications infrastructure and wireless connectivity in Port-au-Prince, using a combination of VSAT satellite dishes and Wi-Fi wireless networks.
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Devastation and Inspiration in Haiti
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Posted by Akhtar Badshah
Senior Director, Global Community Affairs
Five days after the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti, we are seeing troubling images of the extent of the tragedy and the magnitude of the suffering now unfolding.
We are also seeing an inspiring outpouring of support from people in the United States and around the world. Ordinary citizens are texting their support to the Red Cross and other organizations to ensure that there are enough funds for relief efforts. An amazing amount of money already has been collected. This is the time to come together and work in a coordinated fashion to support the relief efforts and ensure that the donated funds are put to the best use for the people of Haiti, both in the short-term and in the long run.
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Supporting Relief Efforts in Haiti
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Posted by Akhtar Badshah
Senior Director, Global Community Affairs
The earthquake in Haiti is an absolute tragedy.
I clearly remember the precise moment when the Tsunami struck Indonesia in 2004 and how that set in motion a chain of events that would hopefully allow us to be better prepared to respond to such tragedies in the future.
We have learned from the Tsunami, and from subsequent tragedies including Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the Sichuan earthquake in China. Since 2004, Microsoft has been supporting NetHope, a membership organization of some of the world’s largest humanitarian relief organizations, which focuses on ensuring that these organizations are prepared to react quickly and effectively to work together during an emergency. Technology is playing a key role in mobilizing support for the victims of the Haiti earthquake and also in coordinating relief efforts. PC World reports that Twitter, Facebook and Skype are all being utilized to get the word out around the world and tell the story of the tragedy that is unfolding locally.
Microsoft is making an initial commitment of $1.25 million, which includes cash and in-kind contributions. Other support efforts include:
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