ITU disaster relief professionals using Thuraya equipment. Photo: Thuraya

[Via Satellite 01-13-2017] Thuraya Telecommunications has donated new supplies of emergency telecommunication equipment to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the decade-old Emergency Telecommunications support arrangement. This donation aims to strengthen the ITU’s capacity in natural disaster preparedness, search and rescue, and response through the use of new mobile satellite communication equipment.

Thuraya’s satellite equipment will enhance the scale at which the ITU can deploy mobile communications to assist countries affected by disasters, and strengthen response, relief and recovery interventions. The donation, which includes Thuraya XT- LITE handsets, SatSleeve+ and SatSleeve Hotspot units, meets the demand and requirements of disaster affected regions: it’s transportable, easy to use and easy to deploy, according to a statement released by the company.

Thuraya’s previous donations to the ITU have helped to provide a critical path for relief in emergency and disaster situations. Most recently, in 2016, the ITU deployed Thuraya terminals in flood-stricken Sri Lanka. These units were used to support relief and coordination efforts on the ground during the torrential rains that caused loss of lives and destruction to infrastructure.