Refugees In Europe Research Articles

The Influence of Faith on the Mental Health of Ukrainian Forced Migrants During the Russian-Ukrainian War: An Exploratory Study via Social Media.

War is a significant, high-intensity stressor that forces millions of people to seek refuge in safer areas, resulting in profound physical and mental health challenges. Following the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians became refugees in Europe. This exploratory study examines the influence of faith on the mental health of Ukrainian forced migrants during the war. The results indicate that two years after the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian forced migrants suffer from PTSD symptoms, high levels of depression, moderate anxiety, frustration, rigidity, aggressiveness, and loneliness. This exploratory study provides insights into the role of faith in the mental health of forced migrants and underscores the importance of support services for this vulnerable population.

‘Homes for Ukraine’ and the politics of private humanitarian hospitality

Abstract Within weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people had fled to neighbouring countries and across Europe. People throughout Europe were mobilised into action, and from the outset, the response to the unfolding humanitarian emergency in Ukraine was a complex and often messy web of private and public initiatives. In this article, we focus on the unique British humanitarian response to the greatest movement of refugees in Europe since the Second World War, known as ‘Homes for Ukraine’ (HfU). We develop our argument in three steps. First, we situate HfU within existing scholarship on ‘everyday humanitarianism’ and private refugee hosting in Europe, locating these within longer histories of private humanitarian action. Secondly, we show how HfU shifts the humanitarian space into the private and domestic sphere, a move reliant on particular conceptions of the ‘home’ as a space of sanctuary and safety. Finally, we unpack the gendered and racialised conceptions of the home and humanitarian hospitality more broadly, and how HfU sits within and outside of the broader bordering practices of the United Kingdom’s refugee response.

Enhancing benefits for peer researchers: towards a flexible and needs-based approach to participatory research

ABSTRACT The involvement of peer researchers has recently gained popularity in social research, and the incentives for using participatory methodologies are well recognised. However, as we argue, the sole presence of peer researchers does not equate to their immediate empowerment, and more attention should be given to the roles they play in the research and the ways in which they can tangibly benefit from such collaborations. We explore the seemingly mundane aspects of work such as recruitment, training, conducting research, dissemination and the afterlife of the project, to suggest that meaningful engagement of peer researchers demands a tailored approach that is receptive to their particular needs and motivations, and is supportive of their individual growth. Our critical reflection stems from a two-year-long collaboration with peer researchers in Poland undertaken as part of a Horizon 2020 project, which explored the lives of young migrants and refugees in Europe.

Exposure to anti-refugee hate crimes and support for refugees in Germany

Abstract In recent years, anti-refugee hate crimes have soared across Europe. We know this violence has spread fear among refugees, but we know less about its effects on the non-refugee population. This is an oversight, as research suggests political violence often has effects on the broader population. Those effects can range from increased solidarity with the targets of the violence to reduced pro-social behavior and less support for the targets of the violence. In this research note, we examine the effects of exposure to anti-refugee hate crimes in Germany. Our results suggest no direct effect of exposure to anti-refugee hate crimes on support for refugees. These results have several implications for our understanding of political divides over refugees in Europe.

Between aid and rights: Humanitarian international NGOs responding to the crisis of European refugee protection

The ongoing crisis of refugee protection in Europe exemplifies a tension between providing humanitarian aid and fighting for human rights. Some recent studies have been highly critical of humanitarian action in this context, suggesting that giving aid to refugees in Europe is a substitute for and suppression of human rights work (Dittmer and Lorenz 2021a; Cuttitta 2018; Ticktin 2016). However, humanitarian aid comprises both, humanitarianism and human rights. This study investigates how humanitarian international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) have striven to protect refugees from North Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine from 2015 to 2023. During this time, many have established new programs in Europe. A content analysis of documents by four humanitarian INGOs shows how they work to integrate both, aid and rights, in their refugee work. This creates certain tensions. For example, the analysis suggests that localisation is one way to integrate human rights into humanitarian action, however at the risk of compromising humanitarian principles.

Return intentions among Ukrainian refugees in Europe: A Cross‐National Study

AbstractThis study examines the return intentions of Ukrainian refugee women who fled to various European countries following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. By analysing data from the cross‐national OneUA survey, which included over 18,000 respondents in eight European countries, this research investigates the interplay of contextual, compositional, and cross‐level interaction effects on their intentions to return to Ukraine. Our findings reveal notable country differences in return intentions, with Ukrainian women in the Netherlands and Germany displaying the lowest intentions to return, while those in Moldova and Romania showing the highest. Individual‐level effects, encompassing factors such as level of education, language skills, partnership status, and region of origin play a significant role in shaping return intentions, yet do not explain the observed country variations. Furthermore, we find that individual‐level effects are remarkably consistent across different European countries, suggesting that country‐ and individual‐level conditions independently shape return intentions. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the complexities underlying refugees' return intentions, shedding light on both the broad influences of country context and the significance of individual characteristics.

Digital skills of and for lives marked by vulnerability: Being young, refugee, and connected in Europe

This article examines how teenage refugees in Europe develop digital skills in and through conditions of vulnerability. We argue that recognising vulnerability as a productive force, rather than merely as context, is crucial if we are to fully understand the emergence, limits and lack of skills among young people experiencing perpetual marginality. Drawing on 96 interviews and five creative workshops with teenage refugees in the cities of Athens, Brussels and London, we discuss three ways in which vulnerability and digital skills become entangled: (i) (dis-)connection, especially in conditions of scarce, interrupted and unsafe digital connectivity; (ii) learning, especially in contexts where digital and transnational literacies co-exist, compete or compensate for educational inequalities; and (iii) digital bordering, especially as this relates to restrictive regimes of mobility control that prolong risks for young refugees’ wellbeing and even life itself.

Healthcare support for ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic: a literature review

The article focuses on the analysis of "most common methods providing health care to migrants and refugees and on the other hand on the analysis of "most common health problems" of refugees and migrants especially in Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Stemming from the conflict since 2014, it has triggered the most significant wave of refugees in contemporary history. The method of analysis is a "literature review" created from available sources in Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, focusing on data systematization within the GAJU 101/2022/S project funded by the South Bohemian University in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. The search strategy included keywords such as "Ukrainian migrants," "refugees," "health data," "central registry," "healthcare crisis," and "aid provision," employing logical operators. We examined 41 literary sources from both Czech and international publications, as well as official institution websites. The study identifies the complex interplay between migration and health, revealing diverse needs among migrants and refugees. It emphasizes the necessity of developing effective healthcare policies, particularly in crisis situations. Understanding the implementation of legal provisions for healthcare access is crucial for adapting healthcare systems in Europe. Upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights during information gathering ensures equal access to medical assistance regardless of individuals' status or financial standing. Therefore, further research in this direction should not only deepen our understanding of the migration-health relationship but also translate knowledge into policies for improving healthcare conditions for migrants and refugees in Europe.

Working conditions and mental health of migrants and refugees in Europe considering cultural origin– a systematic review

BackgroundMigrants and refugees/asylum seekers, as a large part of the European work force, are often confronted with unfavorable working conditions in the host country. Main aim of this systematic review was to compare the association of these working conditions with mental health between migrants and refugees/asylum seekers due to their diverse migration experiences and cultural origins, and between different European host countries.MethodsSystematic search for eligible primary studies was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL) using quantitative study designs written in English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish or Turkish and published from January 1, 2016 to October 27, 2022. Primary health outcomes were diagnosed psychiatric and psychological disorders, suicide and suicide attempts, psychiatric and psychological symptoms, and perceived distress. Secondary health outcomes were more general concepts of mental health such as well-being, life satisfaction and quality of life. Two reviewers independently completed screening, data extraction and the methodological quality assessment of primary studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. Descriptive summary of primary studies on working conditions and their relationship with mental health were conducted, comparing migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, migrants and refugees/asylum seekers of different cultural backgrounds (collectivistic and individualistic) and migrants and refugees/asylum seekers living in different host countries.ResultsInclusion criteria were met by 19 primary studies. Voluntary migrants are more likely to experience overqualification in the host country than refugees. In all examined host countries, migrants and refugees suffer from unfavorable working conditions, with migrants from collectivistic countries being slightly at risk compared to migrants from individualistic countries. Most unfavorable working conditions are related to poor mental health, regardless of migrant status, cultural origin or host country.ConclusionsAlthough the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies, it is evident that to maintain both the mental health and labor force of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers, their working conditions in host countries should be controlled and improved. Special attention should be paid to specific subgroups such as migrants from collectivistic societies.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review is excluded from ethical approval because it used previously approved published data from primary studies.Trial registration numberCRD42021244840.

Refugees In the EU And the SDGs: Decoding Inclusivity of Refugees In Assessment System Of SDGs And Progress Towards SDGs.

Migration issues began specifically after the world wars and evolved in various forms to this day. The biggest inflow of refugees in Europe was seen in 2015 which brought new issues at the forefront of the European Union. European Union had tried to control the crisis through various policies and systems in place. EU countries have shared responsibilities to ensure the asylum seeker is processed in a dignified manner. But the process is not as simple as it looks. And many a times there are incidences of violation of basic universal Human rights which are also part of SDG’s. When we look into SDG’s, one point strikingly comes into light which is the “refugee gap” connoted by the International Rescue Committee in their report “Missing Persons: Refugees Left Out and Left Behind in SDGs” (2019). Such other reports point out lacunas in the policies made to achieve inclusivity. My proposed topic is Refugees in the EU and the SDG’s: Decoding inclusivity of refugees in assessment system of SDG’s and progress towards SDG’s. The paper will try to study SDG’s, migration, policy lucidity and responsibilities of member states to ensure providing basic services obligated under SDG’s. It is crucial to study whether the “well-managed migration policies” are able to include refugees into the SDG’s assessment and are they coherent with SDGs aim of “not leaving anyone behind.”

Low access and inadequate treatment in mental health care for asylum seekers and refugees in Germany-A prospective follow-up study over 12 months and a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Refugees experience elevated rates of mental health problems, but little is known about mental health service utilization and quality among asylum seekers and refugees in Europe. In a 12-month follow-up study of newly arrived refugees (N= 166, Mage= 32.38 years, 30.7% female) and a nationwide cross-sectional study (N= 579, Mage= 33.89 years, 36.2% female) of refugees who had been living in Germany for an average of 6 years, we examined objective need for mental health treatment, perceived need, access to treatment services, and adequacy of treatment. We defined minimally adequate mental health treatment according to the WHO World Mental Health Survey as ≥8 sessions of psychotherapy (minimally adequate psychotherapy) or pharmacotherapy plus ≥4 medical visits (minimally adequate pharmacotherapy). In both studies, two in three individuals screened for mental health symptoms and additionally perceived a need for professional treatment. Of those, less than half had contact to any service provider, with only 1 in 14 receiving minimally adequate psychotherapy. Overall, no more than one in seven of refugees in need received minimally adequate treatment. Despite a comprehensive mental health-care system, refugees' access to mental health care and the treatment provided are inadequate. Health policies are urgently needed to provide equitable mental health care for all.

Refugees' gendered experiences of education in Europe since 2015: A scoping review

AbstractThis scoping review aims to explore the role of gender in refugees' educational access, experiences, and outcomes in Europe since 2015. Gender can act as a significant barrier to education, and gender stereotypes and bias can affect learning opportunities and outcomes. As a response, a scoping review was conducted to explore the role of gender in refugees' educational access, experiences, and outcomes in Europe since 2015. This review follows a systematic process of reviewing and synthesising texts compiled in the Hub for Education for Refugees in Europe (HERE) Knowledge Base to fill the gaps in knowledge about gender‐related post‐migration experiences of refugees and displaced individuals who have arrived in Europe. The review includes studies that focus on educational services for refugees in Europe and uses a meta‐ethnographic synthesis approach to data analysis and synthesis. Using a socio‐ecological framework, it was found that at the individual level, access and progression were shaped by previous educational attainment, health issues, survival tactics and future aspirations; at the micro‐level, by relationships with family, educators and peers; at the meso‐level, by public perceptions of refugee learners and home‐school interactions; and at the macro‐level, by administrative barriers, the asylum system, socio‐economic factors and the tailored opportunities and community support available. The majority of the studies referred to the experiences of women and girls.

The role of Council of Europe law and ECtHR practice in the protection of refugee rights

h negotiations and litigation, and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes is one of the fundamental principles of international law, there are still subjects of international law in the world who prefer the military way of dispute settlement and violate the fundamental principles of peaceful interstate relations. One of the most striking examples is the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against an independent European state - Ukraine. Russia not only violated the fundamental principles of international law, such as peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for the sovereignty of the state, etc. but also caused a huge number of human rights violations. As a result of the armed aggression, many Ukrainian citizens were forced to seek refuge abroad in European countries. Thus, the issue of legal regulation of the rights of refugees in Europe is relevant both for the European countries that accept and protect such refugees, and for the citizens of Ukraine who are forced to obtain such status. The author of the article paid special attention to the protection of refugees' rights within the framework of the Council of Europe law and the ECtHR case law, as these institutions are key to the protection of human rights in the European space. Thus, the study of the role of the Council of Europe and the ECtHR will provide an opportunity to understand the overall picture of refugee protection in the region. In general, the growth of annual migration volumes makes it necessary to pay special attention to this issue, especially in relation to forced migrants who are vulnerable and in need of protection by the host state. The purpose of this article is to explore the role and significance of the law of the Council of Europe, as well as the ECHR in the protection of the rights and freedoms of refugees in the European region, as well as the current issues faced by Ukrainian refugees in European countries. In addition, the article examines the fundamental approaches to the understanding of the concept of refugee in the theoretical and legal plane.

10.Q. Workshop: Ukrainian refugees in Europe: tackling challenges in health needs and access to health care

Abstract Because of the Russian invasion, nearly 8 million refugees fleeing Ukraine have been registered across Europe of whom 90% are women and children. Ukrainian refugees’ health and access to health care is a concern of utmost importance in this context; and a critical public health challenge for the European countries. To undertake this task knowledge is needed on how Ukrainian refugees experience problems related to health, wellbeing, and access to health care services in host countries. Yet, knowledge is scarce on general health needs, health reception and access to specific services among Ukrainian refugees in European countries. In this context, our workshop intends to bring together four projects that shed light on health needs and well-being of Ukrainian refugees in different European countries as well as the organization of support and access to healthcare systems. The workshop is structured in a first part with presentations and a second part with an open discussion involving the audience. Each presentation will last a maximum of 8-10 minutes. The first presentation concerns health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees in the UK including the role of initial health assessments and local authority involvement. The second presentation addresses Ukrainian refugees’ wellbeing, adaptation and use of health care services in Denmark. The third presentation highlights health and healthcare needs among refugees from Ukraine arriving in Norway during 2022. Finally, the fourth presentation is also from Denmark adressing general practitioners’ assessment of Ukrainian refugees arriving to Denmark. In the last part of the workshop, the chairpersons will open a discussion with all workshop participants in order to exchange experiences. The discussion will focus on how to support research and public health interventions targeted Ukrainian refugees including which areas need urgent focus. By learning from each other, this workshop aim to inform public health researchers and stakeholders on challenges and possible solutions to the important public health problem of Ukrainian refuges health. Key messages • Cross-country sharing of public health knowledge regarding Ukrainian refuges health. • Adressing public health challenges and possible solutions regarding Ukrainian refuges health.

Vaccine hesitancy among migrants and refugees in Europe: from the local to global perspective

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy (VH) in migrants and refugees (M/R) undermine the prevention of communicable diseases. Scientific research is valuable regarding its potential for producing analyses to better understand the phenomenon. Objectives To present findings of the 1st phase of the RIVER-EU project on vaccination among M/R populations. To provide a more comprehensive - from local to global - perspective by reviewing the evidence of the problem. Methods During the 4th quarter of 2022 qualitative studies were conducted which described barriers to vaccination among the Ukrainian M/R (Poland); M/R (Greece); Turkish/Moroccan adolescent females (Netherlands); the Roma community (Slovakia). VH exploration was an important ‘by-product’ of the project. This presentation will go beyond research results - a review of the existing evidence will help contextualize our findings. Results VH among M/R depended on a variety of factors, which differed between countries and selected communities and were deeply rooted in geographical, political but also cultural and social context. For example, drivers of HPV VH among the Ukrainian M/R in Poland were influenced by personal risk perception, such as self-perceived risks and severity of illnesses caused by the virus; these were fueled by low awareness, lack of credible information in Ukrainian language, and lack of satisfactory education. Lack of confidence in the quality, safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine distributed in Ukraine, powered by the loss of trust in medical staff/governmental institutions, due to the universal bribery and corruption in the health sector, also played an important role. Deprioritization of the HPV vaccine caused by misconceptions about non-mandatory vaccinations also influenced VH. Conclusions A better understanding of VH in M/R groups, with the help of the monitoring over longer periods of time is urgently needed. Monitoring M/R VH can inform needed interventions to support vaccine acceptance.

A Difficult Passage to Navigate: From Asylum Story to Refugee Tale

This article draws on the results of a life writing initiative, ARENA (Archive of Refugee Encounter Narratives), developed at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. It involves students of English collaborating with refugees over periods of three months to write down the latter’s stories. Like other storytelling ventures spawned by the perceived European refugee crisis of 2015, ARENA aims to enable a better understanding of the situation of refugees in Europe than the dominant asylum discourse allows. To this end, students arrange regular encounters with participating refugees and encourage them to tell whatever they consider to be their stories. The texts the students craft from these exchanges capture not only the refugees’ stories but also their own experience of hearing them. I will examine the embodied act of narration thus recorded in the ARENA corpus and contest critical claims that, too indebted to the rigid veracity standards defining official refugee testimonials, refugee life writing is unable to augment new ways of thinking about refugee experience and forced migration at large. My argument is that such criticism does not apply where the dialogic nature of live telling is consciously experienced and given due expression in the life writing it eventually becomes.

1319 Case Report: Volunteering Overseas with Medical Volunteers International

Abstract Background Medical Volunteers International (MVI) is a non-government organisation (NGO) founded in Germany in 2016. Its mission is to provide medical care to asylum seekers and refugees in Europe. This is a volunteer case report from Athens, Greece. Scope of Practice: In Athens, volunteers work within three categories – triage – allocating patients to clinics and assessing for emergencies, street outreach – wound care and first aid to patients sleeping rough, and clinic – consulting room with diagnostic tools and translators. Patient Story Many patients do not have access to health cover from the Greek government or lack the language skills to access care. Patient A was an undocumented asylum seeker sleeping rough. He had a discharging dorsal foot abscess but refused to attend hospital for fear of cost or arrest. After persuasion he allowed MVI volunteers to clean his foot and express the abscess. With oral antibiotics and regular dressings, he improved. MVI helped arrange legal aid to assist with an asylum claim. Impact of Volunteering: The main impact is directly from volunteers to patient care. Longer term, individuals can contribute by sharing skills with permanent members of NGO staff and helping write guidelines e.g., wound care. How can this benefit the NHS and surgical trainees? MVI provides volunteer opportunities for doctors at all levels of training. Working with an international team provides opportunities to communicate and learn from others. Working in a less-economically-developed setting encourages resourcefulness and hones clinical diagnostic skills. Volunteers often report feeling part of a ‘bigger cause’.

Associations between postmigration living situation and symptoms of common mental disorders in adult refugees in Europe: updating systematic review from 2015 onwards

BackgroundRefugees and asylum seekers have a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The postmigration context inheres different risk and protective factors for mental health of refugees and asylum seekers in host countries. We conducted a systematic review to update knowledge on the association between characteristics of the postmigration living situation (PMLS) and mental health outcomes in Europe since 2015.MethodsWe searched in five databases according to the PRISMA statement. From a total of 5,579 relevant studies published in 2015–22, 3,839 were included for title and abstract screening, and 70 full texts screened for eligibility. Out of these, 19 studies on refugees and asylum seekers conducted in European countries after 2014 were included in this systematic review. The quality of studies was assessed by using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) – version 2018. We performed a narrative synthesis using the four layers of the social determinants of health framework.ResultsA wide range of risk and protective factors for mental health in the PMLS were identified as exposure measures, which included individual factors (e.g., language skills), social and community networks (e.g., family concerns, loneliness and social support, discrimination), living and working conditions (e.g., legal status, duration of residence, unemployment and financial hardship, housing) as well as general socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors (e.g., social status, acculturation). We found postmigration stressors are positively associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, albeit not consistently so. Especially, the general socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors showed weak associations with mental health.ConclusionsHeterogenous study characteristics likely explain the inconsistent associations between characteristics of the PMLS and mental health outcomes. However, broken down in its component layers, most risk and protective factors of the PMLS were significantly associated with symptoms of mental disorders showing the same direction of association across the included studies, while the association between some stressors or resources of the PMLS and mental health turns out to be less homogeneous than expected. Characteristics of the PMLS contribute to the high prevalence of mental diseases of refugees and asylum seekers. Disadvantages in general socio-economic conditions, living and working conditions, in access to social and community networks need to be redressed, in addition to better access to health care.

Evolution of the definition of the term "refugee"

It is indicated that the presence of large number of refugees in the world indicates numerous problems in the peaceful coexistence of states in various regions of the planet, including, unfortunately, in Europe, where more than 10 million Ukrainians have already become refugees as a result of full-scale brazen Russian aggression, in addition, there are many refugees in Europe, also in Ukraine, from areas of conflicts in Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Georgia, Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result of objective circumstances, all these people were forced to leave their native homes and become refugees. The presence of millions of refugees from the different parts of the world proves the need for radical reforms of the UN, which is increasingly finding it difficult to ensure international law and order and conflict resolution, and also shows the urgent need to improve the mechanism of protection of the human rights at the universal level.It is proved that the evolution of the concept of "refugee" continues for a long time. Currently, the main emphasis in this field in legal science is aimed at unifying the understanding of the concept of "refugee" in international law, primarily at the universal level. The full-scale aggression of russian federation in Ukraine caused the largest wave of refugees in the history of Ukraine, currently only in the EU, according to official UN data, there are already more than 8.1 million citizens of Ukraine, of which 4.9 million citizens of Ukraine have already received refugee status or asylum.It is noted that in order for a person to be recognized as a refugee under international law, he must meet the following conditions: stay outside the country of his citizenship or permanent residence (if the person is stateless); the presence of well-founded fears of becoming a victim of persecution based on race, religion, belonging to a certain social group, citizenship, political beliefs; unwillingness or inability to use the protection of this country; does not belong to the category of persons not covered by the Convention. The simultaneous operation of the UNHCR Charter, the 1951 UN Convention about Status of Refugees and the 1966 Protocol on the Status of Refugees led to the emergence of the such a problem as the emergence of two types of refugees: "mandatory" and "conventional".

Medico-socio-psychological aspect and stress factor related to the reception of Ukrainian refugees and hosts in Europe

More than six or seven million Ukrainians have been subjected to bombing and violence on their territory since February 2022, forcing them to leave their homes. This invasion has created Europe's biggest recent humanitarian crisis, claiming more victims’ day by day and causing widespread displacement in and out of the country. Europe has been on the warpath ever since, trying to avoid any escalation in the ongoing conflict and avoid the use of nuclear weapons. So what about the mental health of all these displaced people? What is the impact of such a large-scale situation on the movement of refugees in Europe? What psychological impact can it have on Ukrainian refugees (stress factor, mental illness)? What psychological impact can there be on the long-term hosts of the refugees? At present, we are not aware of any French or English articles already published on the medico-socio-psychological aspects linked to the problems of displacement of Ukrainian families and the reactions of the hosts over the long term. In this article, we will try to address the medico-socio-psychological issue of careers and the psychological impact of deported Ukrainian refugees.