U.K. newspaper puts it bluntly: 'Surprised that Syrian refugees have smartphones? You're an idiot' By Zach Dubinsky, CBC News Posted: Sep 12, 2015 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 12, 2015 5:00 AM ET Migrants from Syria charge their phones outside a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last month. Recognizing that smartphones have become essential lifelines for many asylum-seekers, the UN has handed out 33,000 SIM cards and tens of thousands of solar-powered chargers at -- * Refugee crisis: Follow the latest developments * Refugee crisis brings out best and worst in Europe: Nahlah Ayed * Refugee crisis makes for strange sights on Lesbos: Margaret Evans * Thousands more refugees to arrive in Hungary in next 10 days: UN * Syrian refugee crisis: Quebec triples number of refugee sponsorships * Refugee crisis: Stephen Harper rejects proposed meeting with political rivals -- As major aid organizations point out, a smartphone is actually a lifeline for many asylum-seekers and migrants. It's not at all unreasonable refugees would have them. Here's four reasons why. 1. Refugees don't have to be destitute, or old Migrant smartphone A girl and her mother look at a cellphone as migrants wait outside a -- 2. Smartphones are cheap Syrian refugee teen takes selfie Alvand, 18, from Syria takes a selfie with his friends as they walk along a railway track after crossing into Hungary from the border with Serbia last week. Cellphones are widely available in Syria for relatively little money. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) Also, it's not surprising that Syrians of any class would have a smartphone. The country has a high rate of mobile-phone usage, at somewhere between 75 and 87 subscriptions per 100 people. "Syria is no South Sudan," said Igor Mitrovic, director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency's Serbian bureau, which has been helping tens of thousands of recent migrants and asylum seekers. A decent device, bought second hand, can cost well under $100 in a country where GDP per capita is about $3,000 a year. Cellular networks have also weathered the civil war better than land lines, making them more reliable. -- Latest Video * Iran releases detained U.S. sailors Iran releases detained U.S. sailors 1:20 Video shows 10 navy members who were held overnight before being let go * Refugees fleeing conflict continue to arrive in Greece Refugees fleeing conflict continue to arrive in Greece 1:17 Ship carrying over 1,000 people lands in port of Piraeus * Obama on the threat of ISIS Obama on the threat of ISIS 1:30 President Barack Obama delivers his final annual report card on the U.S * 'Food Stamp recipients didn’t cause the 'Food Stamp recipients didn’t cause the 1:27 President Barack Obama delivers his final annual report card on the U.S Advertisment -- * Powerball lottery: Questions about legitimacy of online ticket brokers not stopping Canadians read comments * Istanbul suicide bomber entered the country as a refugee, PM says read comments * Alps avalanche kills 2 French high school students, 1 Ukrainian skier read comments * Iran's quick release of American sailors applauded by John Kerry read comments * Russian airstrikes help Syrian army gain major victory in strategic -- Don't Miss * canada dollar loonie Canadian dollar will drop to 59 cents US in 2016, Macquarie forecasts * Obama State of Union Analysis Barack Obama delivers 'peppery and partisan' final state of the union address * A3 e-tron NAIAS 2016 NAIAS 2016: Detroit car show models are watching you right back * Powerball Jackpot Powerball lottery: 5 things Canadians need to know * John Tory and Justin Trudeau Updated Trudeau praises Toronto's response to Syrian refugee resettlement * Les Deux Alpes map Updated Alps avalanche kills 2 French high school students, 1 Ukrainian skier * Kevin O'Leary New Kevin O'Leary tries to trump Rachel Notley, saying she's 'bankrupt' of ideas * Predicting the 2016 Oscar nominees Analysis Oscar nominations 2016: CBC's Eli Glasner predicts the finalists * TURKEY-BLAST/ Istanbul suicide bomber entered the country as a refugee, PM says * Transport trucks lined up in Nipigon, Ont., winter Nipigon River Bridge delays slow $100M of goods shipped daily * canadian powerball ticket holder Powerball lottery: Questions about legitimacy of online ticket brokers not stopping Canadians * Oil and gas Oklahoma fracking lawsuit Oil prices Who wins, who loses when oil drops below $30 * CANADA/ RRSPs Selling your house in retirement: What not to do * winter storm 2016 Atlantic winter weather causes widespread outages, cancellations * Oilpatch Outlook 20151028 Analysis Seeking a political scapegoat for plunging oil: Don Pittis Explore CBC -- CBC gem logo Radio-Canada ©2016 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved Visitez Radio-Canada.ca