03 September 2025
How can connectivity contribute to better lives for displaced people?
Today’s article underlines the importance of digital inclusion worldwide and sheds light on the main challenges that displaced people face when accessing financial services online.
What is it about?
UNHCR’s latest “Displaced and Disconnected” report looks at refugees’ and forcibly displaced people’s access to mobile connectivity and financial services in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region, and highlights the importance of digital and financial inclusion.
Why is it relevant now?
The MENA region is hosting around 16 million forcibly displaced people, but is slow to provide an effective and regulated access to banking and telecommunication services for vulnerable communities.
What is the main issue?
Many forcibly displaced and stateless persons worldwide still face legal restrictions when trying to access digital opportunities. For example, proof-of-identity requirements for mobile money and other online banking services limit the access to these services for refugees without identity documents.
What’s next ?
To improve the digital inclusion of displaced people, regulations relating to the economic sector should “open doors rather than close them for refugees and other forcibly displaced and vulnerable populations”.
