First Voice International

FVI Responds to the Asian Tsunami Disaster

March 2005

First Voice International is currently actively supporting an emergency broadcasting system for northern Sumatra in the wake of the December 26th tsunami disaster. This collaborative initiative is being coordinated and developed by Internews (www.internews.org).

Working with the Government of Indonesia, the United Nations, Equal Access and other NGOs, Internews and First Voice have established a satellite-based communication system that provides reliable, critical and timely information for tens of thousands of affected people across the Indonesian province of Aceh. Through placement of WorldSpace satellite radios with community radio stations for rebroadcast on local FM and placement of the satellite radios in villages stricken by the tidal wave, this initiative represents an 'information lifeline'. Many of the radio receivers are equipped with solar panels and special batteries to ensure that they will work inspite of lack of electricity and other power failures. The digital signal from the AsiaStar satellite allows for excellent reception inspite of the devastation on the ground.

Internews is supporting the development of content produced in Banda Aceh in both Bahasa Indonesian and the local language, Achinese, to help with disaster relief and reconstruction. The radio content includes news about rehabilitation and available resources from the many organizations working there, health and sanitation alerts,disease prevention, education, missing person alerts, and other critical information.

With the communications infrastructure largely destroyed by the tsunami, First Voice Interntational's satellite capacity is viewed as a critical contribution to the tsunami relief and reconstruction effort in Indonesia. Similarly, in India, the AsiaStar satellite is providing tsunami relief information to stricken communities in Tamil Nadu, the worst hit area of India.

Click here for the Internews article describing the broadcasts.

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Last updated on Thursday, May 5, 2005 9:59 AM