June 20, 2014 – World Refugee Day is dedicated to generating awareness of refugees around the world. On this day, observed on June 20th, 2014, Refugees United (REFUNITE), Ericsson and Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia announce the launch of a mobile application and a large-scale SMS campaign to reconnect of families caught in the humanitarian crisis that has plagued Liberia and the neighboring Ivory Coast.
Recognizing that everyone has the right to know where their family is, the three organizations aim to use technology to reconnect families. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, Liberia is home to an estimated 58,852 refugees.
In an effort to empower Ivorian families to harness mobile technology and reconnect with their missing loved ones, REFUNITE, Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia, and Ericsson will expand the REFUNITE family reconnection platform into Liberia. REFUNITE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reconnect forcibly displaced families, and has pioneered a global family reconnection platform for people to search, register and communicate. The platform aims to serve the 51 million individuals globally, who have been forced to flee violence, conflict, or natural disaster. The REFUNITE platform contains more than 300,000 registrations.
Following post-election violence in the Ivory Coast in 2010, tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees fled to neighboring countries, including Liberia. There are still nearly 60,000 refugees who, often despite their desire to return to their home country, have neither the family nor community support to make the transition.
With support from Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia and Ericsson, separated families in Liberia will have access to the REFUNITE platform through a help line and a mobile application, which can be accessed free of charge. MTN Liberia will also provide a bulk SMS campaign to generate awareness in refugee prone areas. By capitalizing on the widespread availability of mobile phones among refugees, paired with MTN’s reach, these SMS campaigns aim to promote the family reconnection platform to those without Internet. The text messages will encourage separated families to register on the platform anonymously.
According to MTN Liberia CEO Tebogo Mogapi, “Ivorian refugees who want to return to their home country are often weakened by lack of community and family support. By reconnecting families, MTN Liberia sees an opportunity to empower these individuals so that they can make the best choice for their families.”
“Our goal is to trace missing loved ones before separation becomes a permanent reality. In Liberia, we see Ivory Coast refugees who have lost confidence, community, and security because they’ve lost touch with their loved ones. We have the chance to change that,” says Christopher Mikkelsen, co-founder and co-CEO of REFUNITE.
“This service has the potential to reach thousands of families. We can change the possibilities they see for themselves by reconnecting them with their loved ones using technology” says Fredrik Jejdling Head of Ericsson Africa.
More info:
Contact:
Ida Jeng, Director, Global Communications and Strategy, Refugees United. Mobile: + 45 31 49 31 93 / Email: ij@refunite.org.
