Here’s How Governments Can Help Mobile Phones Become a Humanitarian Lifeline
By Yiannis Theodorou, Stephen Chege, & John Warnes
As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes poor and vulnerable people all over the world, mobile phones have become a lifeline for many. They allow wages, vouchers and humanitarian assistance to be transferred safely and efficiently. They also deliver public health information and connect people with healthcare providers. However, too many people are still excluded from this vital technology, especially marginalized groups such as refugees and asylum seekers. The economic fallout from the crisis is also putting pressure on providers, just as their services are needed most.
Mobile technology has the potential to transform lives in the long run, not just during the coronavirus crisis, as long as we take the right steps to ensure nobody is left behind. Here are three ways governments can step in to ensure mobile services help the world’s most vulnerable communities fight the pandemic and access essential support.
Photo courtesy of Simon Berry.
Source: World Economic Forum (link opens in a new window)
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- Coronavirus, Technology
