Refugees United

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With the support of Omidyar Network, Refugees United gains access not only to funding to further develop our tools to help separated refugee families, but also to a vast network of experience and deep knowledge of digital platforms and how to scale these.


— David Troensegaard, Co-Founder, Refugees United

Refugees United is a nonprofit organization that uses an online forum and mobile phones to help refugees reunite with family.

Why We Invested

Refugees United maintains a secure missing persons database and tracing tool that can be accessed via online and mobile platforms. With Omidyar Network’s support, Refugees United will expand its operations by augmenting its technology platforms, recruiting developers, and developing new partnerships with international refugee agencies. The organization already works with some partners, such as the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, to help register refugees onto the platform.

The United Nations estimates there are 43 million refugees around the world and millions are seeking missing loved ones. Since its founding in 2008, Refugees United has registered thousands of refugees and helped reunite many families. The free service is available in 19 languages and contains searchable information on refugees of 82 nationalities. The profiles of the missing are completely anonymous but identifiable to family members through information only they would recognize, such as nicknames. The organization hopes to scale to reach significantly more people in the next three years.