Seattle woman responding to Ukrainian refugee crisis

SEATAC, Wash. — The United Nations estimates 3 million Ukrainians have fled the country. Most are heading to Poland, Hungary and Romania.

Humanitarians from all over the world are now heading for those countries, including a Seattle woman who is headed to the Ukraine border.

KIRO 7 reporter Lauren Donovan spoke with Adrienne Brooks with Mercy Corps Tuesday morning.

The 30-year-old Green Lake woman was at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport about to board a flight to Romania.

She said once she arrives at the Ukrainian border, verifying information for refugees will be her top priority.

Brooks said once people cross the border, many don’t know where to go, and a lot of confusing information is circulating on social media.

“The role that I’m going to be doing alongside our other team members is really to understand what information people are looking for, what are those gaps, and what are the barriers to accessing information so that we can design a better, more responsive program with verified and trustworthy information for people on the move,” said Brooks.

Brooks said because of misinformation, there is a lot of opportunity for people to take advantage of vulnerable refugees.

She will be helping refugees get verified information so they can make their own decisions.

Brooks plans to spend two weeks there.

Mercy Corps staff are also in Poland and Ukraine delivering medical supplies and food staples.

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