South Sudan: 2012 Year in Review

South Sudan won its independence in 2011, but over a year and a half later the world’s youngest nation still faces immense challenges. Hunger, insecurity, displacement, remoteness, natural disasters and disease all take their toll on a population still reeling from half a century of civil war. Even the most basic infrastructure to assist expanding humanitarian operations is virtually non-existent, particularly in the area of telecommunications.

The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) is filling this gap. By providing coordination and telecommunications services to humanitarian organizations on the ground, it enables a more efficient, focused response. In 2012, the ETC continued its vital work helping the people of South Sudan build a new nation.
 

2012 in Numbers
100%	Humanitarian staff provided with radio coverage in the common operational areas of each of the 10 state capitals
>1,000	Radios programmed for the humanitarian community
2,223	ICT support tasks completed for the humanitarian community
428	Humanitarian staff provided with radio training
23	Humanitarian staff provided with Let's Comm training
>3,000	Humanitarian staff utilised the ground-breaking ETC response solution

Achievements

Coordination

• Ensured new telecommunications legislation covered the requirements of the humanitarian community
• Coordination and management of the common telecommunications network
  
• Management of VHF/HF frequencies, selcalls and call signs and allocation to all UN agencies and NGOs

Voice and Data Connectivity

• Provision of data connectivity to 3,000 aid workers from 248 different organizations in Bentiu, Maban, Renk, Pibor and Yida via the pioneering ETC response solution, significantly enhancing emergency management and coordination (see below)
  

Security Telecommunications

• Review of existing VHF/HF network and strengthening of capacity; the radio network was expanded to cover the entire common operational area of all the 10 state capitals
  
• Installation and maintenance of telecommunications equipment including VHF repeaters, vehicle and base radios
  
• Programming of over 1,000 radios for the humanitarian community (double the amount of radios programmed in 2011) and the completion of 2,223 telecommunications support tasks for the UN and NGO community, both in the capital, Juba, and the deep field
  
• Upgrade of all telecommunications equipment to ensure MOSS compliancy

Training

• Radio training delivered to 428 people from nine UN agencies and 108 NGOs across eight locations resulting in increased understanding of radio usage and protocols
  
• Delivery of Let’s Comm training to 23 people from 18 NGOs and two UN agencies resulting in increased understanding of radio installation and programming, VHF/HF networks, configuration of communications equipment and MOSS standards. In addition, it increased the security telecommunications capacity of the humanitarian community
  

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Challenges

• Delays importing and exporting telecoms equipment
  
• Difficulty in transporting equipment around the country, particularly during the rainy season
  
• Uncertainty regarding the implementation of new telecommunications legislation
  
• Lack of funding

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2013 Plans

Despite the successes of 2012, many challenges lie ahead. Infrastructure remains in poor condition with limited road access and there is virtually no GSM or telecommunications support in some field locations.

Refugee populations are increasing as neighbouring countries suffer from instability and conflict. The rampant flooding across South Sudan during the rainy season displaces hundreds of thousands and causes widespread suffering. Inter-communnal clashes and seasonal cattle-raiding are on the increase and food insecurity persists.

In 2013, the ETC will continue to provide rapid, reliable, and independent telecommunications services to the humanitarian community as it strives to alleviate these problems.

Read the South Sudan Consolidated Appeal (CAP) for 2013 here.

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