Conflicts & War

Over 1.2 million refugees have fled Russian invasion of Ukraine

Geneva, Mar 4 (EFE).- Over 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighboring countries since Russian armed forces launched an invasion in Ukraine nine days ago, the United Nations said Friday.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 650,000 Ukrainians have fled to Poland, 145,000 to Hungary, 103,000 to Moldova, 90,000 to Slovakia and 57,000 to Romania.

In the Russian-backed separatist regions of Lugansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, 53,000 people have crossed the border into Russia.

Another 110,000 refugees have fled to other European countries not on the border with Ukraine.

“The rate of this exodus is quite phenomenal,” UNHCR communications chief, Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, said.

On Thursday, the EU agreed to activate a never-used-before mechanism that grants temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in all member states.

“Many EU States have already shown great support, and yesterday’s decision reinforces this solidarity, which we hope will continue,” UNHCR said in a statement. EFE

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