Follow
Google is helping refugees get information on the countries they are visiting through the Crisis Info Hub.
STATES CHRONICLE – A month after their fundraiser, the tech giant announces refugees can now access Google.org’s Crisis Info Hub. The online platform is meant to offer refugees and migrants support when visiting a foreign country.
Ever since the European refugee crisis began making headlights at the beginning of September, Google was among the first companies to show its interest in the matter. The tech developer announced on September 15th that they are willing to raise money to contribute to the cause. No details were provided in relation to the measures that the company plans to introduce to help refugees in European countries.
The initiative has immediately received fans’ support, who donated $5.5 million within the first days of the fundraiser. At the end of the entire period, Google managed to collect $11 million, a total sum that was going to be well-invested according to the Google.org director Jacquelline Fuller.
The CEO has declared that the philanthropic company is looking to invest money in websites and online apps that are useful to all users, but particularly to those in dire straits. Sometimes, the money are also physically donated, but this usually takes place through cash transfers because Google.org’s policy does not allow the poor to receive money and take decisions on how they should be spent.
This time, Fueller chose a mixed variant, that is, the money have been used for cash transfers and investments, alike. The Crisis info Hub was purposefully designed to guide refugees when trying to accommodate in a foreign country.
The website is a database offering migrants information on geographical regions, public transportation networks and other services they may benefit of. The hub does not burden the use of smartphones, it can be easily accessed on portable devices and it can even save battery life, developers have explained.
There is, nevertheless, one single thing that the new website can’t do and that is, guarantee access to the Internet – the first condition that must be fulfilled for refugees to get access to the website. Consequently, Google.org has teamed up with NewHope, an organization that offers free Internet to refugees.
The new website was developed in collaboration with International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps, Fueller has further stated. The website contains only information on Lesbos, Greece, for the moment, but other regions will be added in the future, as well, Google has concluded.
Image source: www.pixabay.com
