Refugee ID
When 5,000 refugees arrived daily at the Polish-Ukrainian border, there were no IT systems and no way to tell helpers from traffickers. Refugee ID is a QR-based wristband identification system built to protect the most vulnerable.
QR-based wristband identification for humanitarian operations — built at the Polish-Ukrainian border to stop human trafficking
Built in partnership with SINTEF during the Ukraine refugee crisis in 2022. Featured in Dagens Næringsliv.
error_outline The Problem
March 2022. 5,000 refugees arrived daily at the Tesco Centre transit camp near the Polish-Ukrainian border. No IT systems. No volunteer screening. No logistics tracking. No big NGOs. No government funding. Just people who showed up. The nightmare: children and women disappearing to human traffickers posing as drivers or aid workers.
check_circle The Solution
With the help of SINTEF, a QR-based wristband identification system was built to distinguish legitimate helpers from traffickers. Every aid worker and volunteer gets a verified QR wristband. Scan it to confirm identity. No wristband, no access to vulnerable people.
shield Why It Matters for Sovereignty
Humanitarian operations handle extremely sensitive personal data — refugee identities, locations, health information. Using foreign-controlled cloud services for this data creates unacceptable risks. These tools demonstrate that critical humanitarian infrastructure can be built on open-source, sovereign foundations.
Components
QR Armband
QR-based wristband identification system for aid workers and refugees.
Wristbands Frontend
Web interface for the wristband identification system.
Simple QR
Python API for QR code generation.
Safe Monitor
Safety and communication monitoring system.
Helping the helpers
This must never happen again — the people who show up must get the tools they need to help people in need.