How technology is affecting the refugee crisis | The ITU Blog

thomwithoutanh's bookmarks 2016-08-02

Summary:

Smartphones, Wi-Fi hotspots and other technologies help refugees communicate, find information and stay safe. And instead of a paid mobile subscription, free applications like Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp and MAPS.ME make it possible. “Wi-Fi tends to be the first thing people ask for once they arrive and get into dry clothing,” says Andrea Dillon, a Mercy Corps staffer in Greece. Our team there reports nearly every group of refugees that arrives has at least one smartphone — and one person who knows how to use it — among them. Upon connecting, Dillon says most refugees’ immediately use social media to let their loved ones know they have arrived safely. Others contact family and friends who have made the journey ahead of them to get information on what to expect next. Refugees also rely on apps and devices to navigate, send GPS coordinates to rescuers, take photos of important phone numbers or instructions and share tips about different routes.

Link:

https://itu4u.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/how-technology-is-affecting-the-refugee-crisis/

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Tags:

viber whatsapp greece syria refugees

Date tagged:

08/02/2016, 12:54

Date published:

08/02/2016, 08:54