بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Palestine Initiative on The Use of Telecommunications  in Disaster and Emergency Situations Regional Conference on “Disaster: Relief and Management: International Cooperation & Role of ICT” Alexandria, Egypt 14 - 17 April 2007   Dr.Eng./ Anwar M. Mousa Ministry of Telecom. & Information Technologies Palestine Tel: +970 8 2829 161, Fax: +970 8 2822 222 E-mail: anwar_mousa@yahoo.com

OUTLINE Introduction Existing emergency Communication Systems in Palestine Replacement plan for future emergency Communications Systems Establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre Preparation of Contingency (Action) Plan Institutional Recommendations Regulatory Recommendations

Introduction Cooperation and coordination among Telecommunications technology is an indispensable tool in both disaster prevention and mitigation. Broadband Wireless Networking Remote sensing Global positioning systems The Internet The satellite The trunked radio and others Cooperation and coordination among governmental administrations, international organizations, service providers, and the general public

Introduction, cont… Fortunately, Palestine seldom suffers from serious natural disasters such as floods, landslides and earthquakes. Most of disasters affecting Palestine is occupation-made continuous armed aggressions against civil people This takes place mainly in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and often cause loss of life and extensive property damage. However the possibility of occurrence of specific natural disasters like earthquakes and cyclones is still significant.

Existing emergency Communications Systems in Palestine The existing comm. systems in use for emergency in Palestine are based on the conventional technologies of emergency calling Any end-user connected to the Licensee’s telecom. networks dialing emergency number is provided with a public emergency call service at any time without charge. Palestinian telecom sector has been developing at a continuous rate over the last decade.

Replacement plan for future emergency Comm. Systems The Ministry is carrying out measures to grant a network licence to a second 2G and 3G operator (Wataniya Telecom company) the ministry plans to grant licenses of digital trunked radio designed to meet the demands of users in emergency mission critical working environment. Finally, plans for licensing broadband wireless networks are in phase of preparation.

Recommendations for the improvement of the current emergency system in Palestine. In spite of the fact that licensing of new operators with new technologies develops and strengthens emergency service in general, A special network fully dedicated for emergency and disaster mitigation is still absent from current plans. Moreover, institutional and regulatory amendments are needed to be implemented. The following are some Technical, institutional and regulatory recommendations needed for the improvement of the current emergency system in Palestine.

National Emergency Operations Centre Establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre It may comprise the following entities: Emergency alert facilities Public Safety Answer Points Wide-Area Radio System A satellite based automated network for receiving real-time weather data

Contingency (Action) Plan Preparation of Contingency (Action) Plan The plan is recommended to comprise the following features: Emergency dedicated phone lines. Paging system to disseminate disaster warning. Safe sites (such as high-elevation points) for erection of base station and other vital emergency telecom. facilities

Contingency (Action) Plan, cont… Vehicles carrying disaster telecom. kits. Stockpiles of vital telecom. materials These stockpiles should be scattered around the country and heavily guarded. Easily accessible and clearly identifiable emergency telecom. equipment, should be placed in vital public institutions, especially those that are essential in reacting to a major disasters, such as hospitals.

Institutional Recommendations An Emergency Telecom. Strategy should be incorporated as an essential part of a national disaster management plan. Government focal point on disaster warning and coordination should be determined, assuring cooperation with neighboring (Egypt, Jordan,…) countries governmental colleagues telecommunication providers. The government agencies concerned with disaster relief in general should work closely with international organizations, non-governmental organizations private institutions.

Institutional Recommendations, cont… Broadcaster either public, commercial or pay-TV (satellite and cable) are requested to provide facility to insert flash news, teletext, etc, ICT community is urged to facilitate and enhanced capacity building (human resources capability) of government entities to operate properly Education is necessary to be prepared to the public regarding disaster anticipation

Regulatory Recommendations In a licence issued to a telecom operator, some emergency telecom-related conditions should be met. make plans for the provision and rapid restorations of telecom. services during public emergencies provide emergency organizations with priority fault repair service The reduction of customs duties imposed on telecom. equipment, especially those brought into the country for emergency relief purposes.

Regulatory Recommendations, cont… The "Tampere" Convention also urges that foreign emergency telecom. personnel should be accorded privileges and immunities. This includes: waiver of licensing requirement type-approval, non-seizure or requisition of equipment immunity from arrests. Similarly, the operators capable to restore telecom. capability after a major disaster may be accorded with similar rights such as, type-approval

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