Mobile Phone Use in Disaster, Conflict and Displacement: Difference between revisions
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Mobile phone use provides opportunities for refugees too develop educational, social, linguistic, digital skills. Most importantly, smartphones promote social inclusion via a virtual double bond with one's own culture and with their new society,<ref name=":6" /> | Mobile phone use provides opportunities for refugees too develop educational, social, linguistic, digital skills. Most importantly, smartphones promote social inclusion via a virtual double bond with one's own culture and with their new society,<ref name=":6" /> | ||
== Resources == | |||
Resources | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 21:11, 24 February 2023
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Mobile device usage has steadily increased with around 95% of the global population having mobile coverage. For marginalised individuals, mobile technologies help ensure more equitable resilience to disaster situations. Marginalised people encompass people with disabilities who are four times more likely to perish in disaster settings and women who are more vulnerable to disaster-ridden environments. [1] In low-income countries, women are 10% less likely to own a mobile phone due to availability along with cultural, social, religious and attitude's towards women's rights. This exclusion from the digital world negatively affects women rescue opportunities in dangerous situations.[2]
Humanitarian Crisis[edit | edit source]
In emergency humanitarian conditions, mobile phones can be used to inform and educate the public about the emergency and to disseminate information.[1] Communities living in harsh living conditions can use their mobile phone apps or platforms for multiple uses including:
- access up-to date information
- stay in touch with eachother
- report on life-threatening condition that requires emergency help
- connect with humanitarian facilities[2]
Mobile phones become essential tools for refugees for identifying resources that can help navigate their journey and orient themselves to their resettlement complexities. [3]
Refugees[edit | edit source]
For refugees fleeing their country, modern communication can provide some level of emotional support. [4] Being able to store as much in the mobile device allows them to avoid carrying maps, cash, documents, torches and dictionaries. [5]. Mobile phones can not only keep them in touch with their family at home but can help provide logistical information during the dangerous and stressful journey.[4] Specific logistical guidance is needed regarding borders to cross, distance to cover, food, transportation and accommodations.[3]In addition to information and communication, mobile phone use can help provide refugees with information, surveillance, entertainment and diverson along their jouney.[6] Refugees prioritise mobile ownership and connectivity as crucial for their safety.[3]
The video below by Ars Technica demonstrates how important the phone is for refugees:
Communication[edit | edit source]
Mobile access allows refugees to keep their friends and families updated about their journey. Being able to text or call their loved ones provides emotional support through this perilous journey. Some refugees postpone communication until they reach their final destination. In this case, the mobile phone might be used to document memories of their experiences to share at a later date.[3]
Social Inclusion[edit | edit source]
For refugees experiencing resettlement, the use mobile technologies has been correlated with social inclusion and opportunities to gain access to applicable information that support their daily lives.[3]Being able to connect with loved ones at home while establishing new relationships in their host communities develops a sense of belonging. The use of the phone acts as a virtual space to develop transcultural connections bridging the cultural gap between the local culture and refugees.[7]
Social Network[edit | edit source]
Social media communication can connect migrants to fellow refugees in host countries providing them with logistical information about routes, transportation arrangements and accommodations. In addition these networks provide general information to help refugees navigate the following settlement issues:
- appropriate behaviours
- stype of dress
- rights
- citizenship
- supports services
- employment
- community housing
- language learning programmes[7][3]
Health[edit | edit source]
Mobile technologies can be used in a variety of ways to facilitate health inclusion. Refugees use online platforms to access health information, health support groups and to communicate with health care providers.[7]Subsequently, providers can monitor refugees health conditions virtually with the use of various apps.[3]
Politics[edit | edit source]
Mobile phone use allows refugees to exercise their right to engage and express in political discussion in both their home country and their host society. Social media allows them to voice their opinion, advocate for refugee rights, influence policy and politics and engage in both offline and online activism.[7]
Issues[edit | edit source]
Refugees claim mobile phones as a lifeline, however there are inherent risk with their use during the journey to resettlement.[5]In exile, refugees may face issues of connectivity and surveillance.[6]
Connectivity[edit | edit source]
Access to the internet via Wi-Fi, SIM-cards and battery charging resources are unpredictable and fragile.[6]The ability to recharge the phone during the refugee journey becomes a question of life or death. Many refugees report that they continually share, change and swap batteries with eachother so as to not be disconnected.[5] Once in a resettlement community, refugees face difficulty with mobile phone use due to:
- financial limitations on connnection service
- difficulty of getting a sim-card due to their illegal status
- local communication infrastructure in host settlement[7]
Surveillance[edit | edit source]
Digital surveillance of refugees by both state and non-state actors can be accomplished through the use of smartphones. Refugees can be tracked by regimes with which they fled, and/or become victims of human traffickers.[5] To counteract this surveillance, refugees report using pseudonyms and avatars to try and protect their identities and intended routes and destinations from the government of their home country and other hostile groups. [6][3]
Summary[edit | edit source]
Mobile phone use provides opportunities for refugees too develop educational, social, linguistic, digital skills. Most importantly, smartphones promote social inclusion via a virtual double bond with one's own culture and with their new society,[5]
Resources[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Paul JD, Bee E, Budimir M. Mobile phone technologies for disaster risk reduction. Climate Risk Management. 2021 Jan 1;32:100296.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Akhmatova DM, Akhmatova MS. Promoting digital humanitarian action in protecting human rights: hope or hype. Journal of International Humanitarian Action. 2020 Dec;5(1):1-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Alencar A. Mobile communication and refugees: An analytical review of academic literature. Sociology Compass. 2020 Aug;14(8):e12802.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eide E. Mobile flight: Refugees and the importance of cell phones. Nordic Journal of Migration Research. 2020 May 28;10(2).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Mancini T, Sibilla F, Argiropoulos D, Rossi M, Everri M. The opportunities and risks of mobile phones for refugees’ experience: A scoping review. PloS one. 2019 Dec 2;14(12):e0225684.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Alencar A, Kondova K, Ribbens W. The smartphone as a lifeline: An exploration of refugees’ use of mobile communication technologies during their flight. Media, Culture & Society. 2019 Sep;41(6):828-44.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Dasuki S, Effah J. Mobile phone use for social inclusion: the case of internally displaced people in Nigeria. Information Technology for Development. 2022 Jul 3;28(3):532-57.
