Connecting_Humanity

Connecting Humanity

Connecting Humanity

Fundraising collective

Connecting Humanity is a collective which provides internet access to people in Gaza using donated eSIMs, allowing them to connect to networks outside of Gaza.[1][2] It is run by Mirna El Helbawi, an Egyptian journalist, writer and activist.[3][4] Over 200,000 people in Gaza (around 10% of the population) have received internet access through an eSIM.[5][6]

Quick Facts Founder, Location ...

Background

The Israeli Ministry of Communications has control over the cellular communications and technology Palestinians may build, which has been limited to 2G.[1][7] Direct attacks on telecommunications infrastructure by Israel, electricity blockades and fuel shortages have caused the near-total collapse of Gaza's largest cell network providers.[4][5][8]

Lack of internet access has obstructed Gazan citizens from communicating with loved ones, finding out about the Israeli offensive, and identifying areas most exposed to bombing and possible escape routes.[4] The blackouts have also made work for the emergency services, making it more difficult to locate and access the injured and people in need,[4] and have impeded humanitarian aid agencies from their work and journalists from being able to report on the situation in Gaza.[4]

Use of eSIMs

The Egyptian journalist, writer and activist Mirna El Helbawi discovered that eSIMs (a programmable SIM card inbuilt into a smartphone[9]) could be used by people in Gaza to connect to remote networks including Egyptian and Israeli networks.[10][11] The first people she was able to connect through eSIMs were Egyptian journalist Ahmed El-Madhoun and Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary.[12][4] The collective uses eSIMs from the providers Nomad, Holafly and Simly.[13]

Impact

Connecting Humanity claim that, by December 2023, 200,000 people living in Gaza (around 10% of the population) had received internet access through an eSIM.[14]

References

  1. [1]
    Vo, Lam Thuy (2023-11-07). "'Let Me Tell Them Goodbye Before They Get Killed': How eSIM Cards Are Connecting Palestinian Families – The Markup". themarkup.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. [2]
    Kershner, Isabel; Nereim, Vivian; Shankar, Vivek; Rogers, Katie (29 October 2023). "Gazans had no cell service. An effort led from Egypt helped reconnect them". The New York Times.
  3. [3]
    "This activist is helping Palestinians get back online in Gaza when connection is lost under Israeli attack". CNN. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. [4]
    Español, Marc (2024-01-29). "The Egyptians who have sent more than 130,000 digital cell phone cards to Gaza to defy blackouts". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  5. [5]
    Aly, Rasha (2023-12-17). "Palestinians in Gaza using eSim cards to get around communications blackout". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  6. [6]
    "When Gaza lost telephone and internet connection, this activist found a way to get Palestinians back online". The Mercury News. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. [7]
    "Why Gaza keeps losing communications". Washington Post. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  8. [8]
    Vo, Lam Thuy (2023-11-07). "'Let Me Tell Them Goodbye Before They Get Killed': How eSIM Cards Are Connecting Palestinian Families – The Markup". themarkup.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  9. [9]
    "What is an eSIM? Here's all you need to know in 2024". Saily. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  10. [10]
    Collier, Kevin; Abdelkader, Rima (19 January 2024). "Palestinians are using donated eSIM cards to stay in touch with the outside world". NBC News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  11. [11]
    "How eSims are helping thousands in Gaza stay connected amid blackouts". NPR.
  12. [12]
    Hesham, Merna (2024-03-19). "'Palestinians won't be silenced again!' : Egyptian journalist Mirna El-Helbawi initiative to get Gaza back online". Ahram Online.
  13. [13]
    "eSims For Gaza". gazaesims.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  14. [14]
    Elassar, Alaa; Tucker, Emma (2023-12-03). "When Gaza lost phone and internet under Israeli attack, this activist found a way to get Palestinians back online". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Connecting_Humanity, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.