Free Information Service Launched for Disaster-Struck Population in Haiti:
Text Your Location 4636 To Register
- Thomson Reuters Foundation puts in place first-of-its-kind Emergency Information Service ('EIS') in Haiti - The EIS is exclusively operating for and on behalf of earthquake survivors, using local languages, French and Creole - The service is free and global. People in Haiti and families and friends around the world can register via a simple text message - Survivors will receive critical news and information direct to their mobile phones
The Thomson Reuters Foundation has today launched a first-of-its kind, free disaster-information service for the people of
To register, survivors subscribing to the Digicell network, the largest in the Caribbean, simply text their location to the SMS shortcode 4636. By return, up-to-date, reliable, actionable information will be sent to them wherever they are in
The service also acts as a news and information gathering mechanism, whereby survivors can report information directly into the EIS team of specialist journalists. The EIS team will collate this information and it will by made available to agencies, emergency teams and local media.
People outside of
TO REGISTER FOR THE SERVICE:
- If inside Haiti: text your location to 4636 directly from your own phone - If inside Haiti and registering someone else's phone number: send a text with REGISTER or REGISTRE and the loved ones' number and location, to 4636 - If overseas: text REGISTER or REGISTRE and the loved ones' local Haiti number, and location to +4673-749-4535 - Note: The SMS shortcode is dependent on local telecom infrastructure; if the infrastructure fails, the local SMS service will not work
The EIS also aims to get critical information to survivors via local media, especially radio, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation already has a team of expert humanitarian journalists in
The Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO,
About The EIS
The Emergency Information Service is a first service of its kind, launched by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in
Thomson Reuters Foundation has developed groundbreaking technology to allow the EIS team and other groups to assimilate and process multiple information streams in an emergency. The tools let the EIS Action-Units generate information services for dissemination in local languages via SMS, email and web page. When all communications are down, the EIS will turn to low-tech means such as leaflets, community notice boards and even megaphones. The Thomson Reuters Foundation joined by the Red Cross to act as a key delivery partner in disaster zones.
About Thomson Reuters Foundation
Established in 1982, Thomson Reuters Foundation is a registered charity in Britain and the
Following the acquisition of Reuters by Thomson Corp in 2008, the Foundation's resources and programmes were expanded and a new leadership team was appointed. The Thomson Reuters Foundation website, trust.org, is a portal which integrates the Foundation's three key areas of focus and brings together the Foundation's community of partners.
For further information: For further information: Thomson Reuters, Victoria Brough, Head of External Affairs, EMEA, + 44(0)207-542-8763, [email protected]; Tom Gilbert, Corporate Communications Manager, +44(0)207-542-4214, [email protected]
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