Rohingya Muslims to receive digital identity

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - JANUARY 10: Rohingya Muslims fleeing state persecution in Myanmar will receive digital identity cards through a project aimed at easing their access to simple services like banking and education in the countries of their residence. The campaign was announced on www.rohingyaproject.com and promoted in Malaysia. Muhammad Noor, co-founder and managing director of the project and a Rohingya himself, said the project will give an identity to the stateless people. "Myanmar does not recognize Rohingya Muslims, so they are seen as stateless, but they have official documents about their family backgrounds. We have created a data pool on the internet and we will ensure that they will register to this pool with their documents. With this information we will create identity cards which they can use to identify themselves," he said. "The Rohingya Project will give them a digital identity using the blockchain technology. With this identity they can access multiple healthcare, education and financial services." Blockchain technology, also used in bitcoin cryptocurrency, will be used to verify genuine Rohingya. Noor said that because Rohingya cannot identify themselves they have problems in getting admission in schools and finding work in the countries they are residing in. “We do not want to live our lives depending on help from other people. What we need more than aid is a formal status. If we will have a formal status we can continue with our lives and work for our future. "If things continue likes this, our children who are not receiving the education will need help in the future again," he said. Noor appreciated the support the Rohingya received from Turkey. “Although we are thousands of kilometers away, Turkey helped us. The Rohingya will never forget this support,” he said.(Footage by Adem Salvarcioglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)