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March 16, 2018 —  Building on the success and necessity of the informational site , the ̽����ѡ, Google, Microsoft and TripAdvisor announced today the expansion of the Europe-based Refugee.Info to Italy, and the launch of new sites in Jordan and El Salvador. The sites live under the umbrella of the global platform, , a digital initiative – led by the ̽����ѡ, with the collaboration of Mercy Corps and PeaceGeeks – focused on providing the humanitarian community with a platform to reach refugees, asylum seekers and crisis-affected communities with critical information in multiple languages. Each site provides potentially life-saving, up-to-date information on legal rights, accommodation, transportation, medical facilities and more.

“Technology has played a critical role in providing refugees and crisis-affected individuals with the information they need to make informed choices about their lives. Refugee.Info has helped more than 600,000 people and the newly formed Signpost platform will build on its success,” said Reynaldo Rodrigues, Signpost Project Director at the ̽����ѡ. “The platform is a testament to the power of partnership in helping solve society’s most pressing issues. We are grateful to Google, Microsoft and TripAdvisor because with their support we are able to expand this critical information pipeline to tens of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable.”

Since its launch in Greece in 2015, Refugee.Info has served more than 600,000 people, meeting refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe online through its website, mobile application and social media, to listen to their questions and concerns, and provide the information they need to make informed choices about their lives. The expansion of the site to Italy and the creation of new versions in Jordan and El Salvador will build on that information pipeline, providing crisis-affected individuals with essential and timely information that is local and context-specific.

Additional details of the new initiatives

Italy

Building upon the successful model of Refugee.Info, the service will extend coverage to Italy by the end of March 2018. The expansion is a direct response to the fact that Italy is now the primary point of entry in Europe for migrants and refugees. In 2017, .

Jordan

Since the start of the Syrian conflict, over 600,000 Syrians have fled to Jordan. Through the ̽����ѡ’s partner, Mercy Corps, the recently launched is providing crucial information on important documents and paperwork for refugees settling in the country. El Salvador: A new channel, CuentaNos, will also play a central role in the ̽����ѡ’s emergency response strategy in El Salvador. Similar to its counterparts in Europe and the Middle East, CuentaNos will provide crisis-affected communities with timely information about rights, services, and other safety topics through platforms that are accessible and preferred by beneficiaries. CuentaNos will be live by the end of April 2018.

We're humbled to have had the opportunity to work alongside the ̽����ѡ on the Refugee.Info hub project since inception and thrilled to see how much progress has been made on the platform,” said Hector Mujica, Google.org Program Manager. “Our Google volunteers have worked diligently alongside ̽����ѡ to help scale the reach of the platform and adapt it to each refugee group's context. We are excited to continue to support ̽����ѡ's goal of bringing relevant and timely information to refugees when they need it most, where they need it most.

As refugees seek safety and shelter for themselves and their families, information is crucial,” says Jane Meseck, Senior Director, Global Programs and Partnerships at Microsoft Philanthropies. “We have reached almost 700,000 people through Signpost’s app in Europe, ensuring that they can find the resources they need to begin to rebuild their lives in a new country. We are proud to partner with the ̽����ѡ to help Signpost expand the platform to crisis-affected individuals in Italy, Jordan, El Salvador and beyond.

At TripAdvisor, we know and understand the great value that trustworthy information, accessible in one’s native language, can have for people to make informed decisions. The Signpost Project is an essential tool to help deliver the critical information refugees, asylum seekers and crisis-affected communities need to make their way and get services where they are,” said Tali Golan, Director, Philanthropy and Inclusion at TripAdvisor. “We’re excited to continue to partner with the ̽����ѡ on this significant expansion and provide technical expertise to help magnify the impact of this platform to serve those who most need it.

Signpost aims to grow even further by engaging countries along the Central Mediterranean transit route such as Niger, Mali, and Libya. For more information please visit www.rescue-uk.org.