Amateur Radio EmComms Presentation by EARA at Cairo ITU Conference

Egyptian Amateur Radio Assembly (EARA) General Secretary Mohamed El Kafrawi, SU1KM, and member Thomas Poland, SU9NC presented 'Amateur Radio - Emergency Communications Assistance' at the 6th Annual Private Sector Cooperation Meeting (Arab Region).

The conference was held 16-17 December at the Smart Village, Egypt's premier business and Technology Park, in Cairo.

Chairing the Session titled 'Role of the Private Sector in Humanitarian Services' was Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP / HB9AQS, IARU Emergency Coordinator, who reported on the recent Forum in Geneva 10-12 December 2007, on Effective use of ICT for Disaster Management.

Messrs. Kafrawi and Poland gave a concise overview of Amateur Radio and how it can provide communication in Emergency situations, along with examples from Egypt and the Arab region, and a word about EARA activity in the Region I EmComms on the Air Exercises in 2007.

The presentation was well received; this was the first introduction to Amateur Radio for over 50% of the audience. In attendance were regional business and government leaders from the Telecommunications Industry, and senior leaders from the ITU.

Discussions are ongoing between EARA, the IARU, and the regional ITU office in Cairo regarding plans to present Amateur Radio and EmComms at the upcoming ITU Telecom Africa in May 2008.

Egypt Amateur Radio Assembly (EARA)
http://www.egyptham.net/

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
http://www.iaru.org/