Helping Refugees Recovering Their Identities And Survive - One Of The Most Impressive Use Cases For Blockchain
It's not a BIP proposal, it's not a brilliant presentation at an exquisite tech event, it doesn't even have an ICO, and yet, it's one of the best use cases for the blockchain technology and it's actually working.
An entire refugees camp in Jordan is managed by the blockchain, allowing to the World Food Programe (WFP) to support Syrian refugees on a day to day basis.
How does this work?
Instead of sending food, WFP now sends money directly to each refugee, which is settled (after an identity verification) in his own account. Now the refugees can go to the shops opened in the camp and pay - please be careful to this - by having their iris scanned. The procedure is called "EyePay" and the scan is just setting up the person identity and then settles the transaction on top of a private Ethereum blockhain.
The best part? The costs are cut by 98%, specifically because there's no middle man (read: bank) involved.
If you want to know all the details, have a look at this article.
I find this both fascinating and encouraging.
There's still hope for humanity.
I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at Dragos Roua where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua.
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That's awesome!
No physical money changing hands, nothing to get lost or stolen, but the dignity of the refugees is protected because they can go and buy what they need.
This should be rolled out around the world, and used to help people all over the place.
It's really good to see practical applications for crypto that solve a real-world problem.
This is something we can all point to when someone says that crypto currencies are all just about speculation.
Thanks for telling us about this :-)
Awesome and frightening. Awesome that this aid is on a blockchain and that refugees are able to access it so they can actually purchase food and supplies.
Frightening that it takes an iris scan. I know we're looking at the benefits here, and I'm happy for the efforts being taken, but there's always a downside to this, and so, I think there's more at stake here.
I guess we'll see how this pans out. I hope the guy from the UN is right and this actually ends up being able to follow the featured refugee after he leaves the refugee camp in ways that will help build his future, rather than be used to simply keep track of him.
I've been waiting for a product like this since I learned about blockchain. We especially need it, now.
That is very cool. I love seeing these projects hit the blockchain and receive support. There is so much more potential to change the world with projects like this and 99% of people don't event understand the potential yet. I wonder how we could get current nonprofits more involved in the blockchain.
Wow this is amazing, most times the food don’t go round in refugee camps and this system will definitely bypass any cut in the supply of food to refugee camps.
I find it excellent, to use this "eyepay" system and that each refugee is able to buy his own food.
Many will not like it for the freedom and the tax-free things that they will get, it seems perfect to me.
This is good.. let your heart feel the pain and distress of others
That really is fascinating, i have to go read that right away 'eyepay', interesting
I can almost hear the sound of bankers all across the world screeching in pain... the American military industrial complex won't be happy about this either lol. Good.
Now this is good as long as they have used of their eyes.