Within weeks of its launch, thousands of refugees in Uganda and Kenya have signed up to Refugees United's mobile phone text messaging (SMS) application, aimed at reconnecting them with loved ones. The UNHCR predicts that more than 3 million people in East Africa could benefit in the coming years.

Ericsson estimates that about 40 percent of Africa's population already has a suitable mobile phone. The application's creators predict that the service will have a major impact in less than three years - dramatically reducing the time taken to reconnect most refugees.

The mobile service is an extension of Refugees United's successful online version, founded in 2005 by Danish brothers David and Christopher Mikkelsen, which has reconnected refugees around the world.

Compared to the high percentages with access to mobile phones operating over 2G networks, Ericsson estimates that just 2 percent of Africa’s population has internet access - a major factor in predictions that the mobile service will be a success.

More than 10,000 refugees have signed up - about 8,500 in Kenya and about 1,500 in Uganda - since the mobile service was launched by the non-government organization in September. The mobile service allows subscribers to add as much or as little information as they want via text message in an attempt to reconnect with loved ones. People searching the database using those same search terms can in turn be put in touch with the person who uploaded the information.

Because the person uploading the information has total control over what is submitted, rather than having to fill in required fields, they don’t have to worry that their information is traceable. They can even add nicknames or pet names known only to people they want to contact.

Ericsson provided the mobile application, developed the related platform and is assisting with systems integration. In partnership with African operator MTN, Ericsson is also enabling connectivity in Africa. The project is supported by the United Nations Refugees Agency, through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR. Refugees United and Ericsson hope to extend the project to other regions soon.

David Mikkelsen

"It's going to be a year before we start seeing a snowball effect with reconnections happening on a large scale," says David. "The rate of registration is encouraging, so we are ready to register upwards of 120,000 people on the platform over the next year. Together with our NGO partners, we hope that within three years the time taken for most refugees to reconnect with their loved ones will be dramatically reduced."

"Officially there are 36 million people recognized as refugees in the world today, displaced as a result of war, persecution or natural disaster," says Christopher. "But the actual figure is likely to be higher."

Refugees United's mobile service allows refugees to use basic 2G WAP-enabled mobile phones to register and search for loved ones on an anonymous database and subsequently reconnect using text messages or the internet.

The pilot program launched in Adjumani, northern Uganda, during September 2010. It will be extended to countries and refugee camps with the greatest need during 2011.

Christopher Mikkelsen

"The success of the Refugees United project couldn't have been achieved without the ingenuity of Ericsson," says Christopher. "We truly believe that the mobile phone and this application can be a catalyst in transforming the lives of millions of refugees by helping them reconnect and reunite with family and loved ones."

The Mikkelsen brothers founded the original online service after years of trying to help a young Afghan refugee called Mansour reconnect with his family. Mansour soon became a friend and an inspiration to the brothers.

He was eventually reunited with his own brother, Parwan. The legacy of his case was the creation of Refugees United, and an ambition to help other refugees reconnect and reunite as quickly and simply as possible.

"The Refugees United program demonstrates the power of mobile communications in humanitarian situations," says Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson. "Ericsson's technology leadership and global presence helps social entrepreneurs like Christopher and David to make applications mobile and take them to scale, allowing them to reach a greater part of the refugee population."