United Nations
Ukraine war largest displacement in decades, according to UN
A Ukrainian woman sits on a train bound for Poland at Lviv Central Station. photo
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
People continue to flee in and out of Ukraine to escape Russian aggression. About 14 million had to leave their homes – and a harsh winter is ahead.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to the largest displacement of people in decades. “About 14 million people have been displaced from their homes since February 24,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said in New York yesterday. And the situation does not improve before a supposedly harsh winter.
“The destruction of civilian infrastructure caused by attacks, which continues as we speak, quickly makes humanitarian aid seem like a drop in the ocean,” Grandi said. Humanitarian aid must be expanded further, the “senseless” war must be ended.
Because of the war damage to electricity and heat supply, the Ukrainian government recently asked those who had fled abroad not to return until next spring. According to the UNHCR, more than seven million people from Ukraine have sought protection abroad – around one million of them in Germany.