AWS Wickr, a secure collaboration application developed by Amazon Web Services (AWS), has played a key role in crisis response and disaster relief operations over recent years. The platform provides end-to-end encrypted messaging, file sharing, and communication for teams that require high levels of data privacy and security.
Operation Recovery, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on supporting distressed Americans and allies abroad, used AWS Wickr to help evacuate nearly 4,000 at-risk Afghan citizens following the Taliban takeover in August 2021. According to Jon Collette, president and CEO of Operation Recovery, “Since the Taliban controlled the internet, email was not a reliable way to communicate. We needed secure communications.” To address this challenge, Operation Recovery partnered with consulting firm UNCOMN and AWS to integrate Wickr into their case management system. This solution enabled volunteers—referred to as shepherds—and evacuees to use encrypted communication features such as “burn on read” messages and masked web traffic.
One evacuee named Farzana was able to escape Afghanistan after three years apart from her husband Jawid. He said, “Day and night, I was thinking about how to get my family out of Afghanistan. My wife was always asking me, ‘Did you find a solution?’”
In addition to supporting evacuations from Afghanistan, AWS Wickr has been used in other crisis situations. During Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the U.S. Army’s 18th Airborne Corps deployed AWS Wickr within minutes to establish secure communications among military units and local civilian agencies in North Carolina. The network allowed police and fire departments rapid access through a self-service onboarding website without requiring full military device management.
Wickr’s HIPAA-compliant encryption also supported telehealth connections during the COVID-19 pandemic by enabling hospitals with limited resources to securely consult with remote specialists.
Amazon states that it has delivered more than 25 million relief items since 2017 during natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires (https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-has-delivered-25-million-relief-items-since-2017-heres-how-were-ready-to-help-when-natural-disasters-strike). The company says it is prepared to meet community needs quickly when disasters occur.
Chris Betz, head of security at AWS, commented on Amazon’s approach: “AWS executive Chris Betz discusses how security is deeply embedded into Amazon’s culture and shares tools to help protect customers in the era of generative AI.”
AWS Wickr remains an important tool for organizations needing confidential communication solutions during emergencies or sensitive operations.