WiFi to empower refugees in camps

dubai — A new WiFi service was launched in refugee camps to help integrate displaced individuals into post-crises societies, it was announced on Monday.

With the average life inside a camp can go over 17 years, providing refugees with Internet will help elevate education and keep them connected to the world.

During the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (Dihad), IEC Telecome Group and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) unveiled, YahClick WiFi, to meet the requirements of NGO units.

YahClick WiFi will be provided to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and World Food Programme to help people in Middle East and Africa camps have access to better healthcare and education services, besides empowering the frontline staff to help generate the right first response to tackle the emergency crises.

Nabil Ben Soussia, managing director at IEC Telecom Group, said while humanitarian agencies help in providing food and shelter to camps, the long-term question now is what happens after camp life.

The UNHCR’s latest education report revealed that 3.5 million refugee children lack access to education. The Internet will help connect refugees to e-learning solutions and give real-time experience in universities and schools. “It’s about providing sustainable operations inside camp and giving access to normal life. You cannot integrate people in societies if they have been absent for over a decade without access to Internet,” said Ben Soussia. He added that innovation and technology allows for more solutions inside the camp. “The WiFi service aims to aid NGOs in creating a microeconomy inside the camp and providing enhanced healthcare and education services,” he said.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com