Satellite services for humanitarian operations
Satellite technology is essential infrastructure for humanitarian aid operations in crisis zones — precisely the contexts where terrestrial communications are most likely to be disrupted, destroyed, or non-existent. The combination of emergency satellite communications (VSAT, BGAN, Starlink), rapid Earth observation for damage assessment, and GNSS for logistics coordination enables humanitarian organisations to respond faster and more effectively to earthquakes, floods, conflicts, and refugee crises.
Emergency mapping
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) provides rapid satellite-derived crisis maps — available within hours of a major disaster — free of charge to civil protection authorities globally. After the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake, Copernicus EMS analysed Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery to produce building damage assessment maps within 24 hours, covering affected urban areas across both countries and enabling search-and-rescue teams to prioritise operations. Similar rapid mapping has been produced for flooding events (Pakistan 2022, Libya 2023), volcanic eruptions, and conflict damage assessment.
Connectivity in crisis
UNHCR, WFP, and ICRC maintain rapid deployment kits including portable VSAT terminals (Inmarsat BGAN, VSAT fly-away kits) and satellite phones for establishing communications in the first 72 hours of emergency response when no terrestrial infrastructure is available. Starlink's lightweight flat-panel terminal has been rapidly adopted by humanitarian organisations — its 4 kg weight, self-deployment, and immediate high-throughput connectivity (100+ Mbps) represent a step change over previous emergency VSAT. The challenge is power: solar generators or vehicle batteries are required in areas without grid electricity.