WFP sees future in iris-enabled payments for refugees

The United Nations World Food Programme has launched a new system at Jordan's King Abdullah Park refugee camp that uses iris scans to confirm the identities of refugees buying goods.The WFP solution uses IrisGuard technology today that allows Syrian refugees in Jordan to purchase food from local shops.”This is a milestone in the evolution of our food assistance programme,” said WFP's Jordan Country Director Mageed Yahia.The innovative iris scan payment system will allow an initial group of Syrians living in refugee camps in Jordan to purchase food without needing cash, vouchers, or credit cards. Instead, they can vouch for their identity and purchase goods through a simple eye scan, making food assistance more efficient, enhancing accountability, and making grocery shopping easier and more secure for refugees.The technology works in tandem with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)'s biometric registration data of refugees and a variety of WFP's partners in Jordan, including IrisGuard, the company that developed the iris scan platform; Jordan Ahli Bank; and their counterpart Middle East Payment Systems (MEPS).Once the shopper has his or her iris scanned, the system automatically communicates with UNHCR's registration database to confirm the identity of the refugee seeking food assistance. Upon verification, it determines the refugee's remaining balance through Jordan Ahli Bank and MEPS. Finally, it confirms the purchase and prints a receipt for the refugee.WFP hopes to expand the use of this iris scan payment system for all Syrians living in refugee camps in Jordan this year.

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