Following initial assessments carried out by the Emergency Telecommunications Sector (ETS) in Beirut, the ETS submitted a proposal to the UNOCHA flash appeal on 14 August, setting out a budget of US$370,000 to cover critical communications services in support of the response for an initial three-month period. The proposed activities include:

• Provide data connectivity in the port to support the response community and to assist rehabilitation of the port until national providers are fully re-established;
• Provide voice/data packages and access to connectivity – via available mobile network operators (MNOs) – for the most affected communities to enable access to information and humanitarian assistance;
• Assess and strengthen security telecommunications networks to ensure humanitarian responders can operate safely amid the volatile security situation.

See page 13, Annex 1 Sector Plans for the ETS appeal.