Yesterday, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, REFUNITE‘s mobile initiative for Syrian families was highlighted during the 20th Annual Global Mobile Awards.
For the first time since World War II, there are more than 51 million forcibly displaced people in the world, and more than 3.5 million are from Syria
To respond to the humanitarian disaster and the massive number influx of Syrian refugees into Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, REFUNITE, Ericsson, Zain Group, Asiacell, and Avea have launched a series of mobile initiatives to reconnect families in the named countries.
The initiative was one of the top five nominees for a Global Mobile Award in the category “Best Use of Mobile in Emergency or Humanitarian Situations.”
The initiative includes:
- A free mobile application in Arabic, where families can search REFUNITE’s global database via SMS
- Free help lines in Iraq and Turkey, where families can register on the platform and be assisted in their search for missing loved ones
- Large-scale SMS campaigns to inform refugees and other displaced population groups of the family reconnection services.
The nomination recognizes the important role of mobile telecommunications in saving people’s lives and reconnecting Syrian families in emergency situations.
