Trying
to help the
Kosovar refugees
through
Internet.
From the beginning of the
Kosovo conflict I wanted to do
something to help the
refugees in some way.
For the last 2 and 1/2 years
I have run a small Internet Service Provider so
I have a good net connection.
I saw the way that the people
were being seperated as they were being herded
from their homes towards the borders of Kosovo.
The following is an idea that I came up with as
my way of trying to help the Kosovar refugees.
My wife and I, along with many friends and
internet strangers put our heads together to
come up with the finished product.
At
www.worldrefugeedatabank.org
is a website that will allow
all people the means to find their displaced
friends and/or relatives.
No confidential information
is displayed so the site can be used without
fear of information getting into the wrong
hands. This website has an interactive search
engine. It would be a terrific tool for aid
workers for a central database for all of them
to use. At present we are operating in English
and Albanian, although due to coding changes the
Albanian has a little English left. We will be
adding a different language each day or two
including German, French, Italian, Spanish,
Dutch and many more. We are constantly looking
for translators. (In particular, we are seeking
the African languages and dialects, as the
African continent is an on-going refugee
crisis)
The main difference between
this database and the Macedonian
(www.refujat.org)
site is that this site will be totally automated
and all searches and input will be
instantaneous. Provisions are made for display
of e-mail addresses for contact between
individuals. No human intervention will be
required.
Our aim is to be a central
resource for all displaced people in the world
and the aid workers who help them.
We need your help in
informing the media and the Kosovar Albanians of
this valuable rescource.
Any help you can give us
towards this end would be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
John
Bowman
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