Friday, November 09, 2012

Blog 11 Africa Technology and Humanitarian Relief


New technology being developed so quickly these days. Africa is starting to use new technology especially when it deals with humanitarian aid. In the past the way that Africans were able to get money for aid and food was by sending them cash in the mail. Sometimes this was a good thing expect that some of the roads were in possible to get some many individuals never receive the money. So now the way they are able to receive money is buy a prepaid card. Aid organizations are able to do this by providing customers with a card or providing them with a mobile phone that gives them access to their account. This make easier for individuals to buy the necessity they need to live. The first service that was used is called M pesa. This service was establish after the great floods in 2007 where now where AID agency in Pakistan provide 1.3 million people with Aid because of the pre-paid debit cards that were issued.  This service has been successful because of the end of 2011 aid agency were able to provide to 25 different agency in 11 countries. With this new technology there is one setback especially in Africa. Africa doesn't have banks establish or the technology to provide for ever citizen especially the individuals who are in rural areas and their environment is the greatest. These agencies are trying to fix that now by having these banks be branch-less where they can provide for these individuals. Since this technology is new it will take some time to establish especially with areas that have poor mobility service.
                This issue is very much a global issue but a good one at that. These new technologies with the pre-paid debit cards are now able to provide aid to Africa countries and. It is making it easier instead of handing out cash they just hand out debit cards because they are secure and individuals able to provide for their family. Even though not every country is getting these services because of lack of technology resources it still shows we are making great strides, in the future we should be able to provide more services to more countries. 


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