When disaster strikes there still is hope
First Response Radio (FRR) is a network of radio broadcasters, NGOs and Government partners. Their members have been working in disaster areas since the Tsunami of 2004, providing critical information via radio, as aid.
The goal is to set up a radio station for the affected community within 72 hours of a disaster. The best way to build this capacity is to equip and train teams before disaster strikes. Like they did to a team in Indonesia before deploying to support a local station in Indonesia after the 6.5 Earthquake that struck on the 7th of December 2016. Over 100 deaths were recorded and around 136 people were seriously injured.
FRR’s local partner in Indonesia has requested support and the FRR Indonesia Coordinator went from Jakarta to support this local partner. The small team from Jakarta took a suitcase radio transmitter and wind-up radios to distribute to the community. FRR is also working to train and support an existing local radio station in the affected area to provide critical information and two-way communications with the community.
On the 11th of December 2016, FRR partners have begun broadcasting on a community radio frequency in the area affected by the Earthquake. They used the suitcase radio equipment that was stored in Indonesia.
Training was soon given to the local radio staff from several stations. Praise God for this initiative that is effectively spreading hope in communities struck by disasters.
Wanneer rampe tref is daar hoop
Noodradio (First Response Radio of FRR) is ‘n netwerk van radio-uitsaaiers, nie-regeringsorganisasies en regeringsvennote. Hulle werk al reeds sedert die Tsunami van 2004 in rampgebiede en verskaf belangrike inligting deur middel van die radio.
Die doel is om ‘n radiostasie binne 72 uur in die rampgebied vir daardie gemeenskap op te stel. Om hierdie doel te bereik word spanne in erkende rampgebiede vroegtydig opgelei, sodat wanneer ʼn ramp wel plaasvind, hulle dit kan behartig. So ‘n span is in Indonesië opgelei voordat hul na ‘n plaaslike stasie in Indonesië ontplooi is om hul te ondersteun ná die 6.5 aardbewing van 7 Desember 2016. Meer as 100 mense het gesterf en om en by 136 is ernstig beseer toe dié ramp tref.
Omdat FRR se plaaslike vennoot in Indonesië ondersteuning versoek het, het die koördineerder van FRR Indonesië vanaf Jakarta gegaan om hulp te bied. Die klein span van Jakarta het ‘n radiosender wat in ʼn tas gestoor word vir die uitsendings saamgeneem en ook opwenradios om aan die gemeenskap te versprei. Op hierdie stadium bied FRR ook opleiding en ondersteuning aan ʼn bestaande plaaslike radiostasie in hierdie rampgebied, sodat hul ook belangrike inligting en kommunikasie aan die gemeenskap kan bied.
Op 11 Desember 2016 het die FFR-vennote op ‘n gemeenskapradio in die area wat geraak is deur die aardbewing, begin uitsaai. Hulle het die tasradio- toerusting wat in Indonesië gestoor was, gebruik vir die uitsendings.
Die plaaslike radio personeel van verskeie stasies het opleiding ontvang. Kom ons loof die Here vir hierdie effektiewe inisiatief wat hoop aan gemeenskappe in rampgebiede bied.
