Urgent Appeal

Emergency Information and Communication Technology Relief Aid Needed for Victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

Date: May 7, 2008 1:30pm PST

To: NetHope Corporate Supporters

From: Jean Falvey, Global Relations Manager for NetHope

Myanmar Coast Flooded, Estimated 1 Million Persons Homeless

Communities in Myanmar (formerly known as “Burma”) continue to suffer in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. The tidal surge caused by the storm, traveling at up to 150 mph and rising 12 feet (3.5m) high, has devastated the densely populated Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar, leaving virtually the entire coastal plain under water since last Saturday.

A US diplomat from the US Embassy in Myanmar estimates the death toll will surpass 100,000 and an additional one million persons will be left homeless. This estimate may rise as rescue agencies make their way into the area. NASA satellite images reveal entire towns under water and infrastructure destroyed. Ground based communications infrastructure is completely wiped out in many regions, making damage assessments difficult, relief aid slow to arrive and the emergency needs unclear. Fuel costs have grown three-fold since the cyclone hit – threatening the ability to supply a power source to generators and raising concerns of a wide-spread blackout. Complicating the situation, the Burmese government is severely restricting access to relief agencies attempting to enter the Country. UN agencies are negotiating for access to this tightly controlled state. Meanwhile, poor sanitation, lack of clean water and extreme flooding are raising concerns of a possible outbreak of malaria, dengue fever, cholera and dysentery. A massive logistical effort is needed to reach isolated, low-lying areas of Myanmar.

In the absence of telecom and transport infrastructure, NetHope members have an immediate and urgent need for satellite and wireless communication solutions to help curb this unfolding humanitarian crisis. NetHope is seeking $500,000 to create a Myanmar ICT emergency fund, from which it will distribute funds to establish communications infrastructure, as well as acquire, maintain and service communication solutions for its members on the ground including Actionaid, CARE, International Rescue Committee, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Oxfam, Relief International, Save the Children and World Vision. By taking a collaborative, coordinated approach to funding urgent IT resources, NetHope hopes to alleviate its members’ dire communications needs thereby promoting their efforts to provide emergency food, shelter, drinking water and more to the impacted people of Myanmar. Any unused funds will be held in reserve for future emergencies. NetHope leadership is reaching out to corporate supporters to provide the needed funding. NetHope believes that facilitating the technology that allows agencies to rapidly deploy aid creates a catalytic impact, which makes the full spectrum of humanitarian aid possible.

Burmese government regulations currently inhibit the deployment of people and equipment into the affected areas. This prevents NetHope from accurately specifying its communication needs for this emergency. However, we expect to develop specific requirements as more relief workers are able to reach the scene and more information becomes available. Today, we are seeking emergency donations of $50,000 or more from each contributor to establish the fund of $500,000. This fund will finance the establishment of baseline communications to speed relief in the areas of devastation including the following possible interventions:

  • Communications infrastructure
  • Humanitarian WiFi Hotspots
  • Communication centers for missing person registries and family reunification programmes.
  • Network Relief Kits
  • Mobile satellite equipment (BGAN)
  • Satellite air-time and usage fees
  • Technical support teams to operate the equipment and train field workers
  • VSAT solutions for high bandwidth communications
  • Interagency collaboration around ICT related issues including licensing, service outages and opportunities for sharing scarce technical assets in the region
  • Development of the local Myanmar NetHope chapter

Time is of the essence. Humanitarian agencies are staging response units in the region. It is expected that visas will be issued as the conditions worsen. NetHope and its member agencies believe that a rapid response is need to alleviate human suffering and save lives. In all likelihood, a protracted emergency response effort will be required.

Please expect a call soon from Bill Brindley, CEO of NetHope, to discuss this further. You can reach him at 703-898-8291 or WBrindley@NetHope.org. Thank you for your legacy of compassion for the least fortunate and for considering this important request.

NetHope is an information and communications technology organization of 22 leading international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serving tens of millions of beneficiaries in 180+ countries.