A group called “Télécoms Sans Frontières” — Phones Without Frontiers, or the TSF — has provided free, three-minute calls to refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who are living in crowded Ugandan camps, giving many of them the first communication they’ve had with family members in a long time.
TSF is sponsored by the UN Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation and uses satellite phones for an uplink. Amazing, simple work.
TSF began humanitarian calling operations in Matanda, a transit camp situated 30 kms from the Congolese border where an estimated 10,000 people are sheltered.
The team also installed a satellite based Internet connection for aid agencies in Kihihi, a small town turned into a humanitarian base camp 30 minutes from Matanda. At present, aid organizations such as UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, MSF, Oxfam, Save the Children or ACF are working to provide help to those who have lost everything after fleeing the fighting in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In less than a week, over 15,000 more Congolese refugees crossed into Uganda bringing the total number of refugees from the recent combats to almost 60,000. Initially located in Ishasha right at the border, the refugees were quickly moved as Nkunda rebels were approaching.
Conflict in DRC – TSF deploys to support Congo refugees fleeing combats into Uganda [TSFI.org]
Fantastic service, more needs to be done to assist these refugees.
nice and easy