Others Publications

Digital technology in the daily lives of urban refugees

Martin-Shields, Charles / Katrina Munir-Asen
External Publications (2020)

published on www.transient-spaces.org 23.01.2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34834/2019.0009
Volltext/Document

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is home to refugees from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, and other countries, who have built networks of support and protection in a country that does not formally recognize their status as asylum seekers or refugees. Digitalization and internet access in this environment play a mix of roles; they keep families in contact, connect refugees to wider community networks, and are a channel for UNHCR to share information with asylum seekers. At the same time, digitalization cannot break down the political and legal barriers that prevent refugees from leading fully engaged lives in KL.