With the rise of internal state conflicts in the Middle East, the world has witnessed a growing number of refugees and displaced persons as a result of the Civil War in Syria. 68.5 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide with another 40 million internally displaced. 57% of these refugees come from South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria. People, countries, and organizations continue to provide resources for the refugees straining their heart and purse strings
With each new day, a new problem arises for refugees. Sprinkled between the need for food, water, and a shelter lies the need to communicate with family and friends that are now quite distant. Refugees are 50% less likely to have a phone with the internet than the general population and 29% of all refugee households have no phone at all. Phones cost the refugees about a third of their disposable income and their service fees are quite costly. Refugees often have to pick between being able to hear their loved one’s voice or going to bed with food in their stomachs.
Number to Dial
Cell Phones give the refugees a way in which they can “inform themselves about their new environment, access services and support (including cash transfers, digital education, and job opportunities) and become connected to the national and global communities around them” according to the UNHCR. A 2016 survey found that refugees viewed connectivity as critical to survival. Many prioritized a working cell phone over education, healthcare, and clothing. For Hekmatullah, a 32-year-old Afghan refugee, he often chooses to call his wife rather than purchase food. Affecting not only himself but his sister, her friend, and five children, stating “I need to stay in touch with my wife back home.” Even the most minimal connectivity allows refugees and those who are displaced internally to contact family, to inform them that they are safe, and to stay knowledgeable about the situation back home. The connectivity allows for refugees who are still moving towards safety to be guided by GPS, information packets, and word of mouth. Allowing these asylum seekers to navigate thousands of miles and avoid gangs, militias, and abusive government powers. After which, many of these refugees want only to call home.
In America alone, more than 140 million cell phones end up in a landfill every year. “Refugee Phones,” an initiative started in Sweden, seeks to gather these old phones in order to refurbish and deliver them to refugees. In 2016, they were able to provide more than 6,000 phones to refugees. Other programs, through the UNHCR, were able to provide cell phone coverage to 150,000 refugees in the West Nile region with 3G coverage. Not only will the coverage aid the refugees but the surrounding community as well. Mobile broadband improves refugee connectivity in a feasible and low-cost way. Providing cheap Wi-Fi for refugees will also boost access for others when costs would otherwise be prohibitive.
Who can you call?
Migrants have become reliant on technology to navigate the “informational no-man’s-land” when they leave their homes. Organizations are creating resources to benefit not only the refugees but the host countries themselves. The European Asylum Support Office has created educational videos on various European countries in an attempt to educate them on possible destinations. Hosting these videos on Facebook and their own app in an attempt to encourage refugees to move to countries other than Germany and Sweden. Other interested parties, like ReDi School of Digital Integration and the Clooney Foundation, are teaching immigrants technological skills. Providing internet connection and devices will increase the effectiveness of such initiatives.
By donating your old phones and spare change to the correct places you can allow those who cannot call home to do so. Children can speak with their mothers and fathers, brothers with sisters, and friends with friends. You can change these places’ lives by just thoughtfully recycling your phone with organizations like “Refugee Phones.” In addition, further support for the UNHCR will help develop connectivity benefits for all involved parties.
Connectivity will allow for information to be passed amongst refugee groups to aid in their transition to safety. In addition, they will be able to assimilate into their new surrounding culture with greater ease while not losing touch with home. Providing refugees with a lifeline will aid them in more ways than we can quantify and fully understand. Donate your phone and resources to organizations to help these refugees do more than just survive a painful period of their life.
Citations
Grandi, F. (2018, July 05). Internet and Mobile Connectivity for Refugees — Leaving No One Behind — UNHCR Innovation. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from http://www.unhcr.org/innovation/internet-mobile-connectivity-refugees-leaving-no-one-behind/
Phones are now indispensable for refugees. (2017, February 11). Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/international/2017/02/11/phones-are-now-indispensable-for-refugees
Price, R. (2016, October 15). A Swedish duo started a program that collects old smartphones to donate to refugees. Retrieved 2018, from https://www.businessinsider.com/refugee-phones-has-persuaded-people-to-donate-6000-old-phones-to-refugees-2016-10