Aid agency Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) has completed a major training programme for emergency workers engaged in humanitarian relief across three continents.
TSF trained staff from 66 international aid organisations in 34 countries in how to use Inmarsat communications in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster.
The aim of the programme was to enable workers to respond quickly and effectively in disaster situations and to deal with any IT problems that might occur.
“We save on average six lives a day through our telecommunications, and these programmes can hopefully help to increase this further,” said Rupert Pearce, chief executive at Inmarsat, which sponsors TSF.
Training sessions were held in Thailand, Nicaragua, and Senegal.
The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department also sent staff from 10 countries for training in Nairobi, Kenya.
By the end of these sessions the attendees were fully trained in how to set up emergency internet and telephone links in a crisis.
