These are the apps refugees are using to find their way in Europe

BERLIN — Mojahed Akil is 26 years old and he’s already running a successful tech startup: the first app he launched has been downloaded over 40,000 times on Android alone. He’s also a Syrian refugee.

Back in his native Aleppo, Akil ran a small company which developed mobile applications. But as the Arab Spring came to Syria, he became involved in anti-Assad protests, arranging meetings and organizing public protests. His activism made him a target for the Assad regime and, four years ago, he was arrested, thrown in jail and tortured.