Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) has decided to distribute 100 shortwave radios to inhabitants in the interior of Surinam. Last May, these inhabitants were hit by floods, and since then deprived of communication with the capital, Paramaribo, and the rest of the world. In addition, Radio Netherlands Worldwide is making a powerful shortwave frequency available for the radio initiative of the Surinamese aid organisations.
During the flooding, a lot of villages in the interior of Surinam fell under water. “Inhabitants can still receive no FM radio or television signals, so shortwave is their only means of getting information, explains RNW Director-General Jan Hoek. RNW will distribute at least one shortwave receiver per village.
RNW can be heard in Surinam via shortwave, Internet and local partner stations. In the near future, listeners in Surinam will be able to hear special programmes produced by various aid organisations, to better inform them over measures they can take to prevent a repeat of the flooding.
“Radio Netherlands Worldwide often provides transmission facilities for radio initatives that promote pluriformity and press freedom. In this instance, we can improve the supply of information”, says Jan Hoek.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)