Africa's first refugee phone network launched in Uganda

Africa's first ever refugee social network was launched in Uganda on Friday on a pilot basis where refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) will be able to trace their family or friends through a mobile phone.

According to Refugees United, an international non-governmental organization that will manage the project supported by Ericsson and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), refugees will use their mobile phones to register themselves, search for loved ones and subsequently reconnect via an anonymous data base using SMS.

"Losing touch with loved ones during a crisis even for just one day can be detrimental to a person's emotional and psychological wellbeing," said David Mikkelsen, co-founder of Refugee United.

"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 of missing family," he added.

Kai Nielsen, UNHCR Representative in Uganda described the pilot project which will run until the end of next year as an important step toward a global partnership in which even the least fortunate people in the world can stay connected through innovative and accessible technology.

"There are very few mechanisms available at the moment for refugees to trace their relatives; the International Committee of the Red Cross does this kind of work but under great difficulty, so this is a very critical project for this type of activity," he said.

Emmanuel Jal, a former Sudanese child soldier turned musician narrated his ordeal how it took him 12 years to connect with his family members who were separated by the over 20 year old war between rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan government.

The war ended in 2005 after the government signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the SPLM.

"When a disaster occurs being able to get in touch with lost loved ones in a matter of minutes is priceless. I think now of the many refugees that will be able to reconnect with their lost loved ones, in a matter of days; it is absolutely amazing service," said Jal.

In Uganda subscribers of Mobile Telecommunication Network, a mobile phone service provider that is providing support to the project will be able to access the data base free of charge.

There are currently about 150,000 refugees in the East African country of Uganda. According to Refugees United, if the pilot project is successful it will be rolled out to other countries on the continent.

Africa hosts approximately 2.1 million refugees and over 6 million IDPs, according to UNHCR statistics.

Source: Xinhua