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Ericsson Response volunteers in Liberia

Volunteers in Liberia

August 2003

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)'s operation in civil war struck Liberia has involved Ericsson Response to help out with telecommunications/IT including the set-up of WFP sub offices in the field. Two of our volunteers, Jan Herremo and Manuel Hernandez, have been sent out on this still ongoing mission. What is it actually like to participate in such an operation? The curiosities are many and this article collects some of Jan's and Manuel's own, personal impressions from "the field".

Jan Herremo left Sweden with just a few days notice at the end of July. He flew to Ivory Coast, where he boarded the vessel that was to become the HQs of operations for the next two weeks. Jan has already been on a few missions with Ericsson Response, but he affirms that it is still just as exciting.
When in Ivory Coast, Jan joined the WFP group of 4 that he was going to stay with on the vessel and in Liberia. For almost two weeks they lived together on the ship where Jan worked with the set-up of satellite telecommunication and e-mail.
After the ECOWAS (African peacekeeping forces) had secured the situation in Monrovia, the vessel, the first humanitarian organization arriving by sea, entered the harbour. At this point only signs of the civil unrest could still be found; destruction, looting, robbery and sadly also victims of the unrest. In these cases being close with the rest of the group gives support.
The Monrovia office had practically been emptied of all IT and telecommunications equipment, so there was a lot of work to get the office environment up and running again. Satellite access and data network was restored using the neighbouring UNDP's satellite link, computers had to be re-configured, and radio equipment needed to be set-up.
Although there was not much spare time, some early impressions from Monrovia was the presence of people out on the streets in search for food. As days went by, some shops began to re-open as well as the "street commerce". There was lack of electricity and water in the city, and in the hotel where the team eventually moved, the rooms that could offer a shower ended up with a queue in front of them…
An exciting episode was when a ship with refugees leaving for Sierra Leone got into trouble far off the coast. With the help of Jan's radio with marine frequency channel, WFP was able to get in touch with their own, as well as a US ship to provide information on how to reach the ship in need.
Jan states that being on a mission like this there is a lot of work to do and "office hours" do not exist, but at the same time it is a very nice experience and he enjoys working with the humanitarian organization's staff and making friends from all parts of the world.

As Jan went back to Sweden in the beginning of September, Manuel Hernandez replaced him. This is Manuel's first time as a volunteer in the field, first time in Africa and it is also the first time anyone from the Ericsson in Spain participates in an Ericsson Response operation. Manuel arrived in the Liberian capital Monrovia on August 28, where he first met with Jan for a handover of the activities. It is planned that Manuel will stay in Liberia for a month, continuing the work with the IT equipment supporting WFP operations.
"The work as such is about the same as at home. The tempo is much faster and the workdays very long and intense", Manuel says. Since he arrived the work has absorbed most of his time and while staying in the office it feels like being in an office at home. The main difficulty, Manuel claims, is to concentrate on the job once you have looked out of the window. "It is difficult to stop working because you feel that the job you are doing is necessary for the people around you and you just don't notice how tired you are." (photo from the window)
As soon as Manuel came back from his summer holidays in August, he left for Liberia. Before leaving he received information on the equipment and also an update on the country and the situation, so he did not feel unprepared. In Monrovia he stays in hotel with other WFP staff, just a short walk from the office buildings that are situated close to the sea in an area with other international organizations and the US Embassy.
Even though the city is apparently calm now, the situation in Liberia remains unstable and insecure. For now, it is foreseen that Manuel will stay in the capital only. "It is so enriching to be here!", Manuel concludes.

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