The world is more connected than ever, but when refugees fleeing conflict or disaster lose touch with loved ones – it's sometimes forever. Among the 43 million refugees worldwide, a staggering number of people will never see their family again because they simply have no means to reach them.

Refugees United is an organization that uses the internet and mobile phones to help families torn apart. Users of their system upload only the information they themselves find safe to share which enables them to stay anonymous. Many people have already found family and friends via Refugees United, but the continued success of the service ultimately depends on refugees knowing that it exists.

How will they be reached?

Since last year, Global Voices translators have been working with Refugees United to translate outreach materials, social media and SMS messages into Swahili, French, Somali, Amharic, Sudanese Arabic and Standard Arabic. We have also shared local advice on how to craft messages that clear and culturally appropriate.

Refugees United say they seek to reach 1 million people by 2015 and Global Voices is proud to offer backup.

“Our partnership with Global Voices is evidence of how we can reach even more families by collaborating with their powerful network of translators and bloggers,” says Ida Jeng of Refugees United.

The power of reconnection

On the blog of Refugees United there are countless stories about outreach and reconnections.

This animation tells the story of a woman named Estelle who found her sister after 16 years of separation.

And this is a video with two Congolese brothers separated for 15 years who met for the first time on Google Hangout on Air after locating each other via Refugees United.