In April 2019, against the backdrop of a deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela, Luxembourg deployed the emergency.lu satellite communications platform to support UNICEF’s operations in the country. The crisis, marked by the collapse of public services, widespread power outages, and the deterioration of telecommunications infrastructure, significantly hindered the ability of humanitarian actors to coordinate assistance and maintain reliable communications.

To address these constraints, the Government of Luxembourg prepared and dispatched a complete VSAT satellite communication system, including a NoSaCo rack and a Ranger antenna, from Luxembourg to Caracas. The equipment enabled UNICEF to establish an independent and resilient internet connection, crucial in a context where national connectivity was highly unstable.

Once deployed, the system provided reliable satellite-based connectivity to support UNICEF’s coordination and operational activities, including in key field locations such as Puerto Ordaz.

The deployment played a key role in maintaining UNICEF’s ability to deliver programmes and respond to growing humanitarian needs despite systemic infrastructure failures.

After several years of continuous service, the mission entered its closure phase in 2022–2023. UNICEF and emergency.lu worked together to organise the repatriation of the VSAT equipment from Puerto Ordaz back to Luxembourg. The process included the full inventory and verification of all components, ensuring the system was properly recovered, maintained, and made ready for future emergency deployments.