Facebook CEO wants to bring Internet access to refugee camps

folarin okunola

September 30, 2015 4:36 PM

The Facebook founder co-wrote a piece with U2 frontman, Bono, in the New York Times, in which they outline the importance of global connectivity

Various media reports have revealed that Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced at a United Nations forum over the weekend that Facebook will work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to bring Internet access to refugee camps.

“Connectivity will help refugees better access support from the aid community and maintain links to family and loved ones,” Zuckerberg said. “Facebook is in a unique position to help maintain this lifeline.”

According to a report by the BBC, there are currently about 1.5 billion users that log onto the social media site at least once a month. Facebook recently achieved a mamilestone when a billion people logged into the site in a single day.

Zuckerberg says bringing Internet access to refugee camps is a part of a much larger campaign to bost global connectivity.

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The Facebook founder co-wrote a piece with U2 frontman, Bono, in the New York Times, in which they outline the importance of global connectivity and made a call out to Silicon Valley tech companies to join them in taking action.

The campaign, dubbed the Connectivity Declaration, aims to provide four billion who don’t currently have Internet access with it within the next five years.

Other celebrity participants in the projects include Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Charlize Theron, and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales.

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