Instant Network Emergency Response restore connectivity in Mozambique

Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Network Emergency Response (INER) team have deployed to Mozambique. 

More than 700,000 people have been affected by floods in Mozambique, with estimations that over half of those impacted are children. A national emergency has been declared, with homes and vital infrastructure destroyed, and tens of thousands of people finding refuge in emergency shelters.

Conditions are severe, with more rain expected to fall and dams already at capacity. Humanitarian partners are also warning of rising cases of malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory infections, alongside a high risk of cholera outbreak due to contaminated water and limited sanitation access.

Connectivity is vital

Communication in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is crucial to support those affected, assess damage and coordinate rescue and relief efforts. It also allows people to pick up the phone and tell their family and friends that they are safe.

Working closely with other agencies in the country, highly trained Vodafone Foundation Instant Network Emergency Response (INER) volunteers will restore free, vital connectivity to support the humanitarian response and reconnect local communities. 

The team have already met the President of Mozambique, re-connected a school that’s housing nearly 800 people, and they are working closely with other humanitarian agencies and local teams to identify further sites.  

The INER volunteers are from Mozambique, Germany and Portugal and the UK, with remote support being provided by colleagues across Europe. While in Mozambique the team aim to be self-sufficient, from food to fuel, so that they don’t detract from much-needed local resources. 

Lisa Felton, Managing Director of Vodafone Foundation said: "The flooding in Mozambique is devastating, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted. We are working closely with officials, agencies and our colleagues in the area. Our Instant Network Emergency Response volunteers are now on the ground deploying to local communities that desperately need support.” 

Justin Waller, Director of Emergency Response, Vodafone Foundation said: "The team are reporting challenging conditions. With waters still high and much infrastructure damaged, they have to plan their mission and logistics with care. They are working as quickly as possible because they know the value that connectivity has – from supporting search and rescue teams, to allowing someone to let their loved ones know they are alive.”

Building resilience to emergencies

Instant Network Emergency Response (INER) is world-renowned for deploying to emergency zones and transforming how we connect people in crisis.

Additionally, INER is building resilience from the ground up. The team are training communities to set up and manage their own emergency networks, to speed up response times and empower people to take charge of their own response when it matters most. 

Vodafone Foundation was due to establish a local INER hub in Mozambique in February. As a result of the flooding, we have accelerated this project and will be working with the local teams to get the hub set up whilst simultaneously supporting with the current emergency. 

Vodacom Foundation Mozambique

In addition to the INER deployment, Vodacom Foundation Mozambique are supporting communities across the country.

20 tonnes of food, essential goods and medicines are being delivered to the Gaza region. Alongside this, they are fundraising for food hampers, and employees from across the company are donating items that will be distributed at temporary accommodation centres in Maputo Province.

They are supporting the distribution of 1,000 dignity kits containing essential hygiene products, in response to an appeal from the First Lady, contributing to the protection and dignity of women and girls in temporary accommodation centres. 

Vodacom Mozambique has also provisioned a free SOS package for customers in affected areas, including airtime valid across all networks, data, and SMS.

Cristina Azevedo, Vodacom Mozambique Foundation Director said: "Connectivity is a lifeline in times of crisis. While Vodacom works around the clock to restore and stabilise network connectivity as quickly as possible in affected areas, the deployment of the Vodafone Foundation Instant Network Emergency Response enables immediate, complementary support for humanitarian operations. By working closely with authorities, the regulator, other private sector players and humanitarian partners, and by supporting the response, we are fulfilling the Vodacom Foundation’s mission to use technology and partnerships to protect dignity, strengthen coordination and support the recovery of affected communities."

Support those impacted by the flooding

Vodafone Foundation is supporting our partners at Save the Children. If you would like to help people impacted by the flooding, you can donate here.