Refugees United
Encyclopedia
Refugees United is an independent, international non-governmental organization
(NGO). It is registered as a 501 (c)(3)non-profit organization in the United States. Refugees United aims to assist refugees with an anonymous and safe internet search engine
to find and reconnect with missing family members. Refugees are able to register on-line with nicknames, descriptions of scars, locations and other markers only known and identifiable to closest family members and friends. All refugees are welcome, regardless of conflict, place or time. Refugees United does not however assist with physical reunifications.
Refugees United's search engine cuts away the barricades between the seeker and the sought, to allow refugees direct access to each other through a powerful and simple system. There are no difficult forms to fill in, no language barrier
s, the service is free of charge and there is no government or other authority involved. It is entirely up to the individual wishing to search for his or her family to decide how much - or little - information to disclose on their profile. Everyone has the possibility to register with a large variety of personal markers which will only be known to family and close friends, if an individual refugee feels unsafe to reveal their full name or location.
Particular emphasis is placed on the security aspects of the Refugees United server. The application runs on dedicated, secured servers placed behind top level firewalls. These servers can only be serviced using a secured protocol narrowed down by specific IP addresses. The server containing the database is not connected to the Internet and only certified personnel have access to it for maximum security. All servers and systems are SSL encrypted. All traffic log files are deleted for security reasons.
Refugees United was founded in 2005 by the Danish brothers David and Christopher Mikkelsen. Award-winning actor Mads Mikkelsen
serves as Goodwill Ambassador for Refugees United. Some of the major sponsors of Refugees United include SAS, SAP, Ketchum, Google grants,Fed Ex Express,Matter Design Studio and MYC4.
s in their search to trace for lost loved ones around the world. This unique internet search engine provides refugees with a global, anonymous and dedicated network, to end the pain and uncertainty of not knowing where relatives are located following separation.
Every day families are torn apart in their escape from war, persecution
or natural disaster
s - they end up in different parts of the world, afraid, alienated and alone. Spouses are parted. Siblings are parted. Parents and children are parted. Locating lost family members is often a lonely, overwhelmingly difficult task.
Refugees United's search engine cuts away the barricades between the seeker and the sought, to allow refugees direct access to each other through a powerful and simple system. There are no difficult forms to fill in, no language barrier
s, the service is free of charge and there is no government or other authority involved. It is entirely up to the individual wishing to search for his or her family to decide how much - or little - information to disclose on their profile. Everyone has the possibility to register with a large variety of personal markers which will only be known to family and close friends, if an individual refugee feels unsafe to reveal their full name or location.
Particular emphasis is placed on the security aspects of the Refugees United server. The application runs on dedicated, secured servers placed behind top level firewalls. These servers can only be serviced using a secured protocol narrowed down by specific IP addresses. The server containing the database is not connected to the Internet and only certified personnel have access to it for maximum security. All servers and systems are SSL encrypted. All traffic log files are deleted for security reasons.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO). It is registered as a 501 (c)(3)non-profit organization in the United States. Refugees United aims to assist refugees with an anonymous and safe internet search engine
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
to find and reconnect with missing family members. Refugees are able to register on-line with nicknames, descriptions of scars, locations and other markers only known and identifiable to closest family members and friends. All refugees are welcome, regardless of conflict, place or time. Refugees United does not however assist with physical reunifications.
Refugees United's search engine cuts away the barricades between the seeker and the sought, to allow refugees direct access to each other through a powerful and simple system. There are no difficult forms to fill in, no language barrier
Language barrier
Language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to indicate the difficulties faced when people who have no language in common attempt to communicate with each other...
s, the service is free of charge and there is no government or other authority involved. It is entirely up to the individual wishing to search for his or her family to decide how much - or little - information to disclose on their profile. Everyone has the possibility to register with a large variety of personal markers which will only be known to family and close friends, if an individual refugee feels unsafe to reveal their full name or location.
Particular emphasis is placed on the security aspects of the Refugees United server. The application runs on dedicated, secured servers placed behind top level firewalls. These servers can only be serviced using a secured protocol narrowed down by specific IP addresses. The server containing the database is not connected to the Internet and only certified personnel have access to it for maximum security. All servers and systems are SSL encrypted. All traffic log files are deleted for security reasons.
Refugees United was founded in 2005 by the Danish brothers David and Christopher Mikkelsen. Award-winning actor Mads Mikkelsen
Mads Mikkelsen
' is a Danish actor.-Life and career:Mikkelsen was born in the Østerbro area of Copenhagen, the son of Bente Christiansen and Henning Mikkelsen, a cab driver. He is the brother of actor Lars Mikkelsen. After attending Århus Theatre School, he made his film debut in the movie Pusher...
serves as Goodwill Ambassador for Refugees United. Some of the major sponsors of Refugees United include SAS, SAP, Ketchum, Google grants,Fed Ex Express,Matter Design Studio and MYC4.
Mission statement
According to its mission statement, Refugees United exists to help refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s in their search to trace for lost loved ones around the world. This unique internet search engine provides refugees with a global, anonymous and dedicated network, to end the pain and uncertainty of not knowing where relatives are located following separation.
Every day families are torn apart in their escape from war, persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
or natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s - they end up in different parts of the world, afraid, alienated and alone. Spouses are parted. Siblings are parted. Parents and children are parted. Locating lost family members is often a lonely, overwhelmingly difficult task.
Refugees United's search engine cuts away the barricades between the seeker and the sought, to allow refugees direct access to each other through a powerful and simple system. There are no difficult forms to fill in, no language barrier
Language barrier
Language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to indicate the difficulties faced when people who have no language in common attempt to communicate with each other...
s, the service is free of charge and there is no government or other authority involved. It is entirely up to the individual wishing to search for his or her family to decide how much - or little - information to disclose on their profile. Everyone has the possibility to register with a large variety of personal markers which will only be known to family and close friends, if an individual refugee feels unsafe to reveal their full name or location.
Particular emphasis is placed on the security aspects of the Refugees United server. The application runs on dedicated, secured servers placed behind top level firewalls. These servers can only be serviced using a secured protocol narrowed down by specific IP addresses. The server containing the database is not connected to the Internet and only certified personnel have access to it for maximum security. All servers and systems are SSL encrypted. All traffic log files are deleted for security reasons.
External links
- Refugees United: http://www.refunite.org
- Refugees United Blog: http://blog.refunite.org
- Refugees United videos http://vimeo.com/refunite
- CNN News: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09/16/africa.refugees.texts/index.html
- Guardian News UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2010/sep/08/mobile-phones-reunite-refugees
- UN: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35884&Cr=unhcr&Cr1
- Xinhuanet: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/03/c_13477505.htm
- India Times:http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/05ys0POfOS7XZ?q=refugees%2Bunited
- BBC World Service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006kz8k
- UNHCR: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home
- Reuters AlertNet: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/UNHCR/fa951fc0acd15ccf230f0840468dc11e.htm
- Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/38696
- MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/refugeesunited
- Twitter:http://twitter.com/refunite
- Developments Magazine:http://www.developments.org.uk/articles/reunited/
- Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/206235
- Reuters AlertNet: http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/47985/2009/02/26-162824-1.htm
- ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=7161310&page=1
- Der Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,614590,00.html
- Go Dubai: http://www.godubai.com/citylife/lm1.asp?article_id=2008/GTY%23421
- Berliner Zeitung: http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2009/0422/horizonte/0003/index.html