nn_Setting up IT systems in a conflict zone - every day risk, every day challenge
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UNICEF's IT team in Syria works under dangerous conditions to ensure staff can communicate while delivering humanitarian assistance. They installed satellite equipment in Aleppo despite the city being one of the most dangerous places for children, with battle lines only 800 meters from the UNICEF office. The IT team also helped smoothly transfer the Damascus office during relocation, transferring systems for over 100 staff without disruption. Their efforts in connectivity are critical to allow UNICEF Syria to deliver emergency services like immunizations, nutrition support, water, education and protection for millions of children, working from hubs in five cities across the war-torn country.
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nn_Setting up IT systems in a conflict zone - every day risk, every day challenge
- 1. 29 June 2016 Each time we heard an explosion nearby, sending a black plume smoke into the air, we would run indoors to find a safe place. Then a few minutes later when the bom- bardment was over we would all go outside and start working again, remembering we had a mission to accomplish. It was really stressful and we were work- ing full speed to get the antenna assembled and pointing in the right direction so that we could get back inside quickly. Even before the risks of installation, Samah and the team worked for 27 months, to se- cure approvals to import the VSAT equip- ment. When not dodging sniperfire or the risk of bombard- ment, especially in areas like Homs or Aleppo, the IT team provides all the five hubs in Damascus, Qamishli, Aleppo, Tartous and Homs, with full IT support, including configuring networks and other communi- cation and IT systems. Recently the team also spearheaded a seamless transfer for the Damascus team to return to the refur- bished UNICEF office, as it relocated from its temporary base. Transferring IT systems and servers for over 100 staff operating in an L-3 emergency setting is a significant challenge. The move was so smooth that no @UNICEF Syri- an Arab Republic/2016 Syria: Setting up IT systems in a conflict zone - eve- ry day risk, every day challenge By Shushan Mebrahtu Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, 29 June 2016 - Check- ing emails on your mobile phone, link- ing up a quick bridge or skype call with the field offices, Regional Office, Ge- neva and Headquar- ters - daily business we often take for granted in the mod- ern world. How often do you stop and think what work and risks might lie behind the global communications we have at our finger- tips? In Syria, our Information Technology col- leagues go to extraordinary lengths to make sure we can work seamlessly with local part- ners and as part of the global UNICEF team. And this involves courage to take personal risks to keep us all connected. Staying and delivering Aleppo today is one of the most dangerous cities in the world to be a child. To stay and deliver for an estimated 450,000 children, our Aleppo team needs to be connected. The challenges for our IT team to install satellite equipment in Aleppo were enormous. Battle lines are just 800 metres from the UNICEF Aleppo office. We started installing the equipment on the rooftop, thinking all the time about when the next mortar or sniper fire will hit us, remem- bers Samah Al Maalouf, UNICEF Syrias ICT Specialist, who led the operation in Aleppo. @UNICEF Syrian Arab Re- public/2016
- 2. 2 one noticed the slightest hiccup emergency and all other work flowed without interrup- tion. Life-saving support for millions of chil- dren in Syria Being connected by phone and internet, and having operational computer systems, is crit- ical to enable colleagues in Syria to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance such as immunization and other health needs, nutri- tion, WASH, education and protection. Chil- drens needs and the challenges are enor- mous. With 184 staff, the UNICEF Syria team works from hubs in Aleppo, Qamishli, Tartous, Homs and Damascus. The team has deliv- ered polio immunization for nearly 3 million children under five and is currently imple- menting the first nationwide immunization campaign since the start of the crisis over five years ago; emergency nutrition support for thousands of children living under siege; safe drinking water for over 10 million peo- ple; innovative education programmes to help get children whose education has been disrupted back to learning; psycho-social support for traumatized children among oth- er programmes; and advocacy for the pro- tection of children. On 16 June, the 2016 UNICEF Executive Board announced that UNICEF Syria Office was honored the 2015 team awards for ex- traordinary personal risks along with the Yemen and Thailand offices. When I reflect back on my experience in Aleppo, on the rooftop, my heart starts pounding as if it is happening right now, says Samah. But at the same time this memory inspires me to do more because I have a personal responsibility and commit- ment to deliver and, most importantly, I know that my work helps to save the lives of millions of children in Syria. Please get in touch with us at icon@unicef.org or Abhijit Shanker Chief, Internal Communication Section ashanker@unicef.org Tel: 917 265 4528