Many of these displaced people rely upon smartphones to find safe passage. Maps and GPS help chart the best course. Messaging apps provide a lifeline to loved ones. Apps of every kind help find a place to sleep, translate foreign languages, offer guidance on what to pack, and help manage money. Almost every need is met with mobile.
But not all have access to this technology. It is no surprise that the refugees carrying smartphones are those who could afford them back home. And holding onto the device during so arduous a journey is no easy feat. Border patrol guards often confiscate cellphones at government checkpoints. And even those who have phones don’t always have access to the Internet, or to apps and services that might help them.
The tech sector has taken note of these issues, and is attempting to address them.