UNHCR Uses IrisGuard’s EyePay Tech to Distribute Funds to Refugees in Egypt

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNCHR) will be utilizing IrisGuard’s EyePay Cash mobile iris recognition platform to distribute financial aid to refugees in Egypt. The targeted remittances program is being carried out in collaboration with the Egypt National Post (ENPO).

To that end, EyePay Cash is being deployed at select ENPO locations, where it will be used to authenticate refugees who have linked their iris biometrics to their case number. Refugees who opt for an iris scan will not need to show any other documents to confirm their identities and withdraw any cash that is available to them through the UNHCR program.

ENPO and the UNHCR are hoping that the program will boost financial inclusion and transparency. Refugees will receive a receipt that details their transaction, while the system itself will create an auditable record of every interaction.

“Donors are assured complete accountability with every pound donated going only to those entitled to receive it,” said UNHCR Cash-based Interventions Officer Steven Choka. “IrisGuard eliminates fraud, reduces bank fees, increases efficiency and allows more beneficiaries to receive the aid they need.”

The move reflects the UNHCR’s growing interest in biometric identification technology. The organization is currently using iris recognition to register Syrian refugees, and has already issued more than 500,000 biometric identity documents to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

IrisGuard, meanwhile, previously partnered with Patientory to enable patient identification in the healthcare industry.

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February 24, 2020 – by Eric Weiss