BALTIMORE, MD, April 25, 2022 – New audio is available for media use featuring Andrew Trapp, an associate professor of Operations and Industrial Engineering in the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). This content is made available by INFORMS, the largest association for the decision and data sciences. All sound should be attributed to Andrew Trapp. He has courtesy professorships in Mathematical Sciences and Data Science. Trapp conducts research on refugee resettlement, and in general, decision making to improve outcomes for migrants such as refugees and asylum seekers. There are 4 questions and responses. These responses were provided on April 15, 2022.
Question 1: What is the current state of the refugee crisis tied to the war in Ukraine?
Time Cue: 0:29, Soundbite Duration: 0:38
“As of mid-April 2022, there are over 4.6 million refugees that have fled Ukraine according to United Nations estimates. These 4-plus million refugees are part of a larger more than 11.7 million forcibly displaced people in Ukraine. Forcibly displaced peoples are those who are no longer able to remain in their home. Refugees have taken the further step of crossing an international border in search of relief. All of these are unable to return home due to fear of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or other events.”
Question 2: What are the biggest challenges faced by neighboring countries and other countries wishing to help Ukrainian refugees?
Time Cue: 01:08, Soundbite Duration: 0:40
“Some of the biggest challenges are the immediate coordination of many Ukrainian refugees in a short amount of time. Every refugee needs access to what we would consider as things related to basic human dignity and rights. Things like food, water, warm clothing, shelter, beds. And after the immediate, there is significant concerns for finding stability in life like stable housing, employment, and schooling for children. And this sustainable support that’s needed, this is where employment comes in and why our refugee resettlement software Annie MOORE emphasizes placing refugees in locations that have high likelihoods of employment. This is a key indicator of integration into society and accelerate self-sufficiency and dignity.”
Question 3: What are the most effective strategies for Ukrainian refugee settlement?
Time Cue: 01:58, Soundbite Duration: 0:60
“There are two primary considerations. One is the short-term, which is settlement as they cross into a different country. And resettlement pertains to more longer-term durable solutions. Accommodating Ukrainian refugees, like lots of refugees, requires coordinated efforts. So, in the immediate short-term Ukrainians are being settled in neighboring border locations like cities along the border in Poland and even further inland in Europe. Beyond these immediate needs, countries have formal resettlement protocols. Countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and others, many others. And they are or will soon begin resettling Ukrainian refugees. So, this is a process of resettling from a second country to a third country. Already, the United States has announced plans to resettle 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the near-term. And while that might sound like a lot of people, it really pales in comparison to the number of people that have fled Ukraine. It’s only around 2 percent.”
Question 4: What role can America play in addressing the Ukrainian refugee crisis?
Time Cue: 03:14, Soundbite Duration: 0:38
“America can play a role on multiple levels. The United States has announced the resettlement of 100,000 refugees. Annie MOORE is a software that uses operations research and analytics tools to recommend placement locations for vulnerable refugees. It will likely resettle a number of these Ukrainian refugees. Beyond, at a community level we can provide support through supplies and other means, such as giving money or time to agencies that are already supporting Ukrainian refugees. And the key is actually working through such agencies rather than independently. Because such agencies have been coordinating with other agencies to ensure their relief efforts are in harmony.”
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