For immediate release:
New mobile app helps reunite refugees
• Aims to anonymously reconnect families and friends separated due to conflict or natural disaster
• Over 3 million people could benefit from this pilot
• Pilot launched in Uganda and to be expanded to other countries in region
In support of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled from conflict and disaster areas, Ericsson and Refugees United, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and mobile operator MTN in Uganda, have launched the first pilot project to locate and reconnect refugee and IDP (internally displaced persons) families through the innovative use of mobile communications and the internet.
The program enables refugees to use mobile phones to register themselves, search for loved ones, and subsequently reconnect via an anonymous database, using SMS or mobile internet. The information in the database is maintained by Refugees United, but the information registered can be used to search by refugees, NGOs and international organizations caring for displaced people, and used to quickly put them in touch with loved ones. Without the program, locating displaced family members can often take years when based on traditional paper based systems.
Refugees United also provides the service via computers and internet, but with more than 5 billion mobile subscriptions today the service via mobile phones is highly relevant. In Africa less than 2 percent of people have access to computers, compared to more than 45 percent that have a mobile phone.
The majority of the refugees and IDPs are in the camps as a result of civil wars over the last 40 years and, more recently, a series of natural disasters in east Africa. Additionally, there are people who have not been granted refugee or IDP status and the total population of UNHCR concern in these three countries is over two and a half million people. It is not uncommon for a refugee or IDP to spend more than a decade in the settlements.
Kai Nielsen, UNHCR Representative in Uganda, says: “UNHCR welcomes this new method of reuniting refugees with their friends and family. The pilot project is an important step toward a global partnership where even the least fortunate people in the world can stay connected through innovative and accessible technology.”
Christopher T Mikkelsen, Director, Refugees United: “Losing touch with loved ones during a crisis, even for just one day, can be harmful to a person’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. Through the pilot of this mobile refugee family-locating program, we aim to outfit UNHCR and other NGOs with a potent, collaborative tool, as well as empower refugees themselves to become active in the search for missing family. We hope in the future that this service proves sustainable and can be available to all mobile subscribers everywhere.”
Emmanual Jal, Sudanese musician and former child soldier, confirms “this new solution is a remarkable achievement. When a disaster occurs being able to get in touch with lost loved ones in a matter of minutes is priceless. It took me more than 12 years to connect with my family members. I think now of the many refugees that will be able to reconnect with their lost loved ones, in a matter of days. It’s an absolutely amazing service!”
MTN Uganda General Manager Corporate and Legal Affairs Anthony Katamba, says “We place serious focus on the use of mobile phone technology for the betterment of society as a whole. Our network is used to stay in touch with our loved ones, to transact business, to learn and develop ourselves using data and the internet, and for many other uses that improve livelihoods. From today onwards, refugees in the region will be able to re-connect with loved ones.”
Adem Sumertas, Country Manager of, Ericsson Uganda, says: “Natural and man made disasters will always be part of our lives and cause unimaginable suffering to human beings, such as separation of families from their loved ones. At Ericsson we strongly believe that access to communications is a basic human right and has the power to help part of that suffering. This pilot project will significantly impact the lives of thousands, by directly helping people to reconnect with loved ones.”
In offering the service, Refugees United will create, maintain and update the database while Ericsson will provide the mobile application, technology and systems integration to enable the application in mobile networks. MTN will host and offer the service on their networks, and UNHCR will help to implement the project in refugee settlements in Uganda and Kenya.
Notes to editors:
Refugees United mobile site:
m.refunite.org
Ericsson
Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company’s portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.
Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the “prime driver in an all-communicating world” through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 80,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 206.5 billion (USD 27.1 billion) in 2009. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on OMX NASDAQ, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.
www.ericsson.com
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
MWAMBU WANENDEYA
Vice President and Head of Communications
Region sub Saharan Africa
Phone: +27 11 844 2257
E-mail: rssa.corporate.communications@ericsson.com
Refugees United
Refugees United is a 501(c)(3) non-profit helping refugee families that have lost contact with each other during escape from conflict with an anonymous platform to reconnect. Please visit www.refunite.org
Christopher T Mikkelsen
Director
Tel: +45 3127 3973
Email: cm@refunite.org
www.refunite.org
www.twitter.com/refunite
UNHCR
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. In more than five decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 6,600 people in more than 110 countries continues to help about 34 million persons.
Needa Jehu-Hoyah Assoc External Relations Officer UNHCR Uganda Tel: +256 (0) 414 230 011 +256 (0) 414 231 231 Email: jehuho@unhcr.org
ABOUT THE MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As at 31 March 2010, MTN recorded 123,5 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East. Visit www.mtn.com and www.mtnplay.com
For more information, please contact: Halima Besisira on +256 (0)31 212 1070 and on email: besisih@mtn.co.ug
