More than 4.5 million people have left the country since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The number of refugees rose by more than 42,000 within 24 hours to 4,503,954, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said today.
It is the most significant movement of refugees in Europe since World War II. Within Ukraine, another 7.1 million people are also fleeing, according to estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Women and children on the run
Ninety percent of those fleeing abroad are women and children, as men between the ages of 18 and 60 are currently not allowed to leave Ukraine. According to the UN, almost 60 percent of the 4.5 million refugees have fled to Poland.
However, many travels from there to other states. In Poland, 700,000 Ukrainians have received a national identification number, which gives them access to the social system.
Refugees should not stay in Moldova
According to UNHCR, as of April 9, 686,232 people had arrived in Romania, mainly through Moldova. The European Commission encourages Ukrainian refugees in Moldova to continue their journey to the EU. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, and itself has a population of only 2.6 million.
According to UN figures, Hungary has taken in more than 419,000 Ukrainian refugees, Slovakia about 314,500, while some 404,500 refugees sought protection in Russia.
- source: ORF.at/agencies/picture: pixabay.com
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