Syeda Zaarah Fathima - Microsoft submission DF

Use of AI to make Mortal Repatriation less stressful
By: Syeda Zaarah Fathima

Imagine Cup Junior Submission
Submitting institution/school: The Westminster School
Student Team Name: Zaarah Ashfaq
Project title: Use of AI to make Mortal Repatriation less stressful
Number of team members: 1
Age range of team members: 13+
AI for Good Initiative: Humanitarian Action

The Problem
The world is becoming flat, and people are adopting other countries to work & make a living. While
they live life to the fullest in their adopted countries, many choose their home country when they die
or when their loved ones depart this world.
The death of a family member or a friend is a traumatic event. Much organization is required
involving close liaison between various agencies for Repatriation of mortal remains - transportation
of the deceased back to their home country, and the other formalities associated with it.
Key Issues:
• No one is prepared for death, let alone repatriation
• Lack of standardized information on the web
• Language Barriers
• Lack of understanding of complex & bureaucratic processes

Research
There is no consistent statistical data collection that would allow us to collate the data of different countries.
Methodology of obtaining the stats varies from country to country. Therefore, the numbers may not be
comparable, but they can give an indication of the magnitude of the problem.
From review of various sources, although incomplete, we are able to ascertain some assumptions.
In 2018, over 6,000 expatriate died.
In 2016, around 2,000 cases involving the deaths of Australians overseas.
An analysis of State Department data shows that 843 Americans died
abroad from non-natural causes in 2016,
NUMBERS MAY NOT
BE CONSISTANT,
BUT THEY CAN GIVE
AN INDICATION OF
THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE PROBLEM

The Concept
Humanitarian action includes the protection of civilians, the provision of food, water and sanitation,
shelter, health services and other items of assistance, undertaken for the benefit of affected people.
Help is provided based on need, with the goal of soothing human suffering and maintaining human
dignity.
‣ I intend to solve the confusion and trauma a family might face in an unfortunate event like this,
by creating an easy to access application that will reduce the hassle and guide the family
through the stressful situation
‣ I anticipate to create a platform that is backed by giant organization like Microsoft, whose global
standing will help in establishing Trustworthy platform that integrates the application with all
stakeholders involved.

The Concept
A universal application, that can work in majority countries. Integrates with the process of various
departments in a country.
Once the user downloads the application, they will have to give a little details of the deceased person
and the situation such us: the country of death, the home country, religion, and more details of the
situation.
Then the application will guide the user through the Foreign county formalities as well as the home
country formalities. Formalities like:
• Reporting the death and cancelling passport and other required documents.
• Issuing a death certificate and doing all the initial paperwork.
• Registering the body is a morgue near you, until you can fly
• Next the app will guide you through receiving formalities in the Home country
• From taking the body from either land or water
• Further paperwork in the home country.

Ethics
Fairness:
Reliability & Safety:
Transparency:

Solving the Problem

Use of Artificial Intelligence

References
https://www.itij.com/latest/long-read/mortal-remains-repatriation-challenges
https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/socialaffairs/deaths#:~:text=If%20you%20wish%20the%20body,death%20in%20the%20home%20count
ry
https://www.internationalsos.com/medical-publications/medical-advice/repatriation-of-mortalremains

Thank you!