Syrians use Facebook to plan, document journey to Europe

Documenting the journey: Syrians embracing as they walk onto the shores of the Greek island of Kos. Refugees are using their smartphones to chart their route to Europe, keep in touch with their families and alert coast guards once their boats reach Greek waters.

KOS, Greece: When Wael and his relatives from Syria climbed into an inflatable boat in the dead of night to cross the sea from Turkey to Greece, they abandoned all their belongings – except their smartphones. 

“Our phones and power banks are more important for our journey than anything, even more important than food,” said Wael, a 32-year-old from the devastated Syrian city Homs who reached the Greek resort island of Kos on Thursday morning.