Information and communication technology in the service of disaster mitigation and humanitarian relief

Disasters, be it natural or man-made, have caused tremendous human sufferings and property damage each year. On the other hand, advances in information and communication technologies (ICT) have brought about unprecedented convenience and possibilities. Over the past decade, the international community has come to realise the critical role that ICT can play in mitigating the impact of disasters. This recognition resulted in the adoption of the Tampere Convention (Treaty) on "emergency telecommunications", which creates an international framework for the provision of telecommunications resources for disaster mitigations and relief operations. The present paper first reviews the role that the international efforts for emergency telecommunications can play in countering and mitigating disasters, thereby providing a safe and secured environment for sustainable ICT development. Finally, the paper will issue a call to arms to both the public and private sectors to join hand in the noble effort of utilising modern ICT for mitigating disasters.