From Hurricane Katrina we learned that not every person has a personal vehicle in which to evacuate, many people do not want to leave their home to be looted or flooded, governmental agencies charged with emergency management do not always fulfill their role, and race can be a factor in the level and timeliness of services provided.
The survivors of Katrina were scattered to the four winds, becoming refugees in their own country. No system to unite families or body identification existed. In fact, the website of Katrina Blankenship in Virgina was pressed into services as an ad hoc location service.
This scenario is not unique. It has been the experience of refugees the world over. Refugees United is a service that began to help refugees find their families. It is an anonymous service where family members of refugees and refugees may register and provide information that may help unite them. The service is free, not tied to any governmental entity and is open to refugees of any conflict.
This post is made in support of Bloggers Unite and Refugees United.
Tags:
