The recent earthquake in Haiti has seen text message donations of more than $3 million dollars in the USA, with all four major network operators supporting a text message campaign that enables mobile phone users to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
Although humanitarian efforts are a priority, restoring communications to the country's damaged capital – Port au Prince – is also seen as an important part of relief work because it will enable the government and aid agencies to coordinate their efforts.
When it comes to network infrastructure, the ITU - the United Nations agency for information and communication technology – has sent 40 satellite phones and a further 60 satellite broadband devices to the area, along with technical support. In addition it's arranging a temporary mobile phone network and has allocated a $1 million budget to its disaster response work in Haiti.
Meanwhile the Telecoms Sans Frontieres charity has deployed an emergency team carrying satellite mobile and fixed-line telecommunications tools. It's the fifth time since 2003 that TSF has been deployed in Haiti.
Donations from the UK can be made online via the Disasters Emergency Committee to its Haiti Earthquake Appeal.