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<H1>Ham radio supports disasters</H1>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>A severe tropical storm in The Phillipines and earthquakes
in Indonesia have seen radio amateurs providing emergency communications and
other relief and recovery assistance.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG>Philippines Amateur Radio Association</STRONG>
(PARA) President, <STRONG>Dr Joey Panganiban DU1BP</STRONG> reports that a
tropical storm named "Ondoy" hit the Philippines five days ago creating a tragic
calamity with hams swinging into action to help.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Joey DU1BP said, "We have mobilized our amateur radio
clubs for the relief operations. <STRONG>The frequencies of 7.045 MHz</STRONG>
have been used for general announcements while 2-metres FM is for our community
operations."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The disaster has affected more than two million people and
the death toll is headed for around 300.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Joey DU1BP said, "All amateur and civic radio clubs are
now on operation in Metro Manila under the guidance of the National
Telecommunications Commission and PARA."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>He said the PARA Secretariat has been designated to
receive donations and soliciting donations both in kind and cash for the
victims.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Joe DU1BP said, "What the evacuees need is food that are
ready to eat (those without much preparation) such as canned goods, noodles,
rice, bread, coffee, milk, sugar, salt and water."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>"They also need medical attention and medications needed
for cough, colds, fever, diarrhea and vitamins. These items will be repacked and
given direct to the recipients, using community officials as contact
points."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Meantime a powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia on
Wednesday, trapping thousands under collapsed buildings and triggering
landslides.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>At least 75 people were killed on Sumatra island after the
7.6 on the Ritcher scale earthquake strike. A follow-up strong nearby inland
earthquake caused even more damage.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>In a brief message just hours after that disaster from the
<STRONG>Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia</STRONG> (ORARI), received by IARU
Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman, Jim Linton VK3PC, it has
been confirmed that hams are involved there too.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG>Wisnu Widjaja W1SNU/YB0AZ</STRONG> reports "We are
active on the field now to support the emergency Communications in West and
South Sumatera, Indonesia. Now, we are using 2-meters and 40-meter
band."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>More information can be expected in coming days.
<BR>However no reports so far of amateur radio emergency communications in the
Pacific as a tsunami hit Samoa leaving a trail of death and
destruction.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana> </FONT></P>
<P><EM><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana>Jim Linton
VK3PC</FONT></STRONG></EM></P></BODY></HTML>