Why the smart phone is now a basic need

By Simon J. Mone

The displacement story continues. And multitudes of homeless people are still seeking safety. Continuously making deadly journeys across unknown destinations through unfamiliar territory.

Under such challenging conditions, such people only carry what can fit in their hands. These are the problems that refugees endure on a daily basis.

Then there are more challenges to overcome. Desperate along the way and disoriented because of a whole new geography to navigate through. Deciding whether the route being taken leads to promised land can be intimidating. However, the willpower and resilience of the displaced, whether young, or old, or pregnant,to get to a better place stands out.  

Of late, technology is changing the migration game significantly. The one thing that migrants find essential is a smartphone. Among refugees, this gadget is now a basic need on top of food, shelter, clothing and  water.
The phone is very important because it facilitates accuracy of movement for refugees on the move. They use it to download maps that help them find the places they are going to.

All they have to do is look out for Wi-Fi hotspots. With the help of Internet, they can search for information, communicate to travelling mates. Then it facilitates their safe passage and stay wherever they reach.

Therefore, refugees now know they must grasp vital applications such as; Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp and MAPS.ME to make use of and enhance their location awareness. In so doing, they are able to navigate routes without hinderances. They can post real-time updates about routes, arrests, border guard movements and transport and update others on where to find water, lodging and medical care. It is possible nowadays, to avoid locations of smugglers and traffickers. Refugees can even translate things in languages that they understand.

The latest technology, fitted with maps, global positioning apps, and social media apps is a treasure. Despite the smartphone being costly, it is in very high demand. People, somehow look for the money to acquire one. To them, the smartphone is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity. And the advent of refugeeinfo.eu, a multilingual website has come in handy. The site provides information on route milestones.

Refugees can also know where registration and asylum processing is taking place and rush there to get registered. They can access emergency contacts, currency details and things of the sort, to enhance their jumping over their next hurdles.

And traffickers should be winding up because soon, soon there will be no stranded refugees to dupe, unlike in the past. 

Simon J. Mone is a Civil Engineer, E-mail: smone@mail.com