Building Digital Life Lines during Disaster

Posted on May 6, 2008 / 2 Comments

“Mom, where are you calling from? Your voice is trembling, are you sure everything is alright?”

These were the first words Carmen Hernandez heard after getting through to her son on the phone following the massive earthquake that struck Peru in August 2007.

Mrs Hernandez lived in Pisco, where the quake hit hardest.

“Please keep talking, it’s so good to hear your voice,” she replied.

The huge quake left at least 500 people dead and thousands homeless in the Ica region, south of the capital Lima.

It instantly wiped out electricity, fresh water and communication infrastructures.

But Mrs Hernandez was able to speak to her son in Spain thanks to the work of charity Telecoms Sans Frontieres.

BBC News | Building Digital Life Lines

2 Comments

samarajiva
May 6, 2008, 5:11 pm
I think it would be more accurate to say that these kinds of services are of value AFTER a disaster event, rather than during one.

Also we need to place these stories in perspective: what percentage of people can and do use these kinds of bespoke services? In Sri Lanka, after the 2004 tsunami, they were marginal. They place western actors on centerstage and therefore get media play. We who are close the ground should be skeptical about these external-actor narratives.
Chanuka
May 7, 2008, 7:29 am
Agree with Rohan that such services are important only after the event, and perhaps their value overhyped.

Nevertheless, it is better to have something than nothing. Not many developing nations can afford the type of technology they bring. If local telecom companies are geared to take such a challenge then perhaps we may not need them.