Summary: As the number of people affected by various form of crisis continues to rise, technology provides a vital tool to help ease the suffering of these people and help them to acclimatise to their new life in the most effective way. It is critical that those affected are allowed access to basic rights, connectivity and the ability to progress and fend for themselves. The birth of the fourth industrial revolution is driving forward the ability to connect people all over the world and providing a way for them to prove their existence and continue with their lives. 

Whether affected by war or natural disaster, there are currently more than 135 million crisis-affected people around the globe. Becoming a refugee does not just mean losing your home; it means becoming disconnected from friends, community, the education system and the national health system. However, if refugees had access to technology, the resulting connectivity to vital support systems could ease the trauma of leaving their home and help them find their feet again. 

Data can help at every stage of a crisis - from first response to delivering aid and through to rehabilitation. Indeed, the World Food Program (WFP) has said that data provides “a new frontier for humanitarian assistance”. For example, satellite images provided by drone footage and weather pattern tracking using smart data can monitor the aftermath of a natural disaster to identify the most affected areas and therefore the people who require the most assistance. It also helps identify whether there will be any further weather events. 

Digital technologies can help people rebuild their lives and accelerate their inclusion into their communities once the initial crisis has passed. For example, access to information through projects like Refugee.Info can help reach displaced people, data can also help provide people with the skills they need to start a small business or get a job to begin to rebuild their lives. The role of technology is increasingly important in this situation and can be the difference between displaced people getting back on track and becoming lost in the system. 

Jane Meseck, Senior Director of Global Programs for Microsoft Philanthropies explains; “One of the big transformations we’re undergoing in Microsoft Philanthropies is the creation of Technology for Social Impact, which is a focus on how we bring all of our technological services and assets to support the NGO and humanitarian community. It’s a real ramp-up of how we support organizations with greater services, greater access to technology, and industry solutions to help solve some of these real problems. We’re really thinking about advancing a future that’s for everyone. That’s our mission, that’s our goal. Whether it’s through technology, education, or both.”

For example, there are now over 11 million displaced Syrians living as refugees. Technology can help those affected by enabling aid organisations and relief workers gain access to their information and whereabouts, helping to drive informed decisions and deliver help where it’s most needed. As explained by Jane Meseck; “We’ve been involved in the Syrian crisis for the past three years, and we see an increasing need to bring technology to the situation, both in terms of power on the front lines and how we can support organisations that are helping people.”

A critical issue for refugees and the organisations assisting them is identification.  Currently 1.1 billion people live without an officially recognised identity. This deprives them of protection, access to services and basic rights. As Jane Meseck explains; “Digital identity is not only a person’s name. It’s also about what comes with that — the services I am eligible for, the education that I am certified for, and the different things that layer on top of having an identity. If I’m a refugee, it’s also critical that I can transfer it with me when I move from country to country and service provider to service provider.”

Humanitarian organisations like ID2020, a public-private partnership dedicated to solving the challenges of identity for displaced people without recognised identity though technology is trying to determine the standards around identity and how we can use different technology tools to support the provision of identity. Whilst much of this work is in its infancy, it has the potential to help resettle displaced people more easily, enabling them to contribute to their new economies and help support their families. 

Digital identity is supported by a range of technology. For example, biometrics is a crucial tool to help prove identity whilst blockchain offers a decentralized way to host digital identity that’s safe and secure. The Cloud industry is accelerating a way for organisations to store their data and provides the ability to work from anywhere, which is highly valuable when working remotely from crisis situations. For example, Medical Teams International in Uganda use a data system in health centers in refugee camps that provides real-time data and can alert providers on potential outbreaks of disease. This means that if they start seeing an increase in malaria sufferers, they are able to use the data stored in the cloud to identify the risk of malaria outbreak and deploy preventative measures.


In addition, cloud provides a way for displaced people to gain access to information from anywhere. It also enables refugees to continue with their education by providing a way of proving that the person has completed their education. This is because digital identification allows all details to be linked to that individual to enable them to secure employment in their new location, or when they return to their country. Again, Jane Meseck explains; “When you bring connectivity to a community, you want to be sure you’re supporting the local community and refugee community in an equitable way. Then you can build services and skills training on top of it.” Humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps agrees, in a statement the organisation explains that; “All people deserve the chance to build better, stronger lives—including refugees displaced from home. That's why we focus on teaching young people technology skills that will serve them for the future.”

Recognising the importance of data and the results of its analysis as a “humanitarian tool”, organisations are increasingly implementing specific project teams and resources dedicated to figuring out how to best apply insights from data for disaster planning and management. For example, last year the UN opened a Humanitarian Data Centre, which aims to increase the use and impact of data across the aid sector.  Facebook has also worked alongside UNICEF and the World Food Program, among others, on a “disaster maps” initiative that provides key information to organisations to help them improve how they respond and provide relief in the immediate hours after a crisis.

As the number of people affected by various form of crisis continues to rise, technology provides a vital tool to help ease the suffering of these people and help them to acclimatise to their new life in the most effective way. Whilst everyone hopes that one day they can return to their own country, in the meantime, it is critical that they are allowed access to basic rights and connectivity and the ability to progress and fend for themselves. The birth of the fourth industrial revolution is driving forward the ability to connect people all over the world and providing a way for them to prove their existence and continue with their lives. As long as the desire to help persists, technology is the key to making lives happier, no matter the current situation; we just need to find a way through. 


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