Iraq: TSF helps to reinforce United Nations security in the field
Following the emergency evacuation of its mLearning centre in Iraq, Télécoms Sans Frontières returned to the field two weeks later, coinciding with the United Nations’ largest humanitarian distribution to date.
During the past month, jihadist forces have gained considerable territory, notably in northern Iraq, meaning that the already volatile security conditions have dramatically deteriorated for humanitarian workers.
TSF sent an assessment team out to the town of Dohuk on 18th August to carry out an evaluation of the needs for the best use of satellite technology in the area. After meetings with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), TSF made available the latest in satellite tracking technology to reinforce the security of UN agents on the ground during their mass humanitarian distributions.
The pocket satellite terminal goes beyond simple real-time GPS tracking – it has an emergency button which once triggered will send an immediate emergency alert to local headquarters with the GPS coordinates of the user, as well as the possibility to send scrambled messages and codes . This system will allow UNHCR officers to carry out the dispatching of vital aid to the 500,000 displaced Iraqis driven from their homes by jihadist fighters.
As deaths and kidnappings of humanitarian workers reached a record high in 2013, TSF is dedicated to reducing this risk by increasing security on the field through its knowhow and practices in the domain of satellite communication technology.
