Minawao, Cameroon: digital kiosks for refugees 📱
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On October 23 in Yaoundé, a partnership was signed between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), and IHS Cameroon to equip the Minawao refugee camp with digital kiosks. Located in Cameroon’s Far North, this camp shelters over 70,000 refugees from Nigeria seeking safety from Boko Haram violence. These new facilities aim to transform the lives of this vulnerable population, providing tools for digital independence and essential socioeconomic services.
Equipped and connected multimedia centers 💻
These digital kiosks will function as multimedia centers. They will be equipped with computers, printers, 32-inch TVs, and plastic tables, all powered by solar generators to ensure operation in this remote area. Connectivity will be provided by a router, offering stable internet access to users.
Olufemi Arosanyin, director of IHS Cameroon, highlighted the significance of these facilities:
“These kiosks offer more than just digital access. They are gateways to education, healthcare, and online governance for an isolated community in great need.”
Basic services and training for greater self-reliance 🧑🏫
The kiosks go beyond providing equipment. They offer various services such as printing, photocopying, and document typing. Refugees can also participate in computer training courses tailored to the specific needs of the local population. “We want refugees to be able to use these tools for their own development,” explains a member of the Jesuit Refugee Service. The planned training sessions will help them acquire essential skills for the job market or small-scale entrepreneurship.
Access to financial services and entrepreneurial development💰
In addition to basic services, these digital kiosks will offer money transfer solutions via Mobile Money and sell phone recharge cards, facilitating financial inclusion for refugees. The UNHCR views this initiative as a way to boost local economic development. “These services are essential for creating a dynamic commercial ecosystem within the camp,” a UNHCR representative stated. The digital infrastructure aims to promote entrepreneurship, enabling e-commerce and micro-commerce activities.
Support for e-health and data collection🏥
Another crucial aspect of this project is e-health. The digital kiosks will serve as points for collecting health data, allowing medical staff to monitor disease cases and manage healthcare interventions more effectively in the camp. According to Olufemi Arosanyin, “The digital infrastructure is essential for collecting health data quickly and reliably, helping to prevent epidemics and improve treatment.” Access to updated data thus enhances the medical care provided to refugees, contributing to healthier living conditions.
Shared management for sustainability 🤝
IHS Cameroon, a key player in telecommunications in Cameroon, will be responsible for installing, supplying, and maintaining the digital kiosks for the first six months. After this period, the Jesuit Refugee Service will take over management to ensure responsible and sustainable operation. UNHCR will coordinate the installation and integration of the kiosks within the camp, ensuring that both refugees and local residents benefit equally.
Furthermore, IHS Cameroon announced its plans to rehabilitate an existing multimedia center in the camp, currently unused. This rehabilitation will provide access to additional equipment for a larger portion of the refugee population.
A hopeful project for refugees in Cameroon 🌍
This digital kiosk project represents a major advancement for the Minawao camp, the largest refugee camp in Cameroon. It’s an initiative that departs from traditional aid, focusing instead on empowering refugees, according to humanitarian aid experts. Humanitarian actors hope this project will serve as a model for other refugee camps in the region.
However, some observers believe that the initial maintenance period could be extended to ensure continuity of services.
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With these digital kiosks, is the Minawao camp taking a new step toward refugee autonomy? 🤔 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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