Outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches 2 million in less than two weeks after Russia invaded
More than 2 million Ukrainians have fled their country in the 12 days since Russia began its invasion, according to the UN refugee agency. Half of the 2 million from Ukraine are children, according to UNICEF.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Tuesday that “Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people. Two million,” Grandi tweeted. That’s about 4.5 percent of Ukraine’s approximately 44 million population.
Speaking to French radio station France Inter, Grandi said the situation is alarming. “There are hundreds of thousands of people on the move, trying to flee the combat zone and seek refuge firstly inside Ukraine in the safe zones. But the safe space is reducing and people are inevitably trying to cross borders,” he said.
Most refugees have left for neighboring countries including Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Poland. Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters that more than 100,000 people per day are arriving in Poland, less than two weeks after Russia’s lethal invasion began. “We are in a very difficult situation. The number of refugees flowing in is growing day by day,” Polish health minister said.
Which Which countries are Ukraine’s refugees fleeing to?
According to UN tracker:
- Poland: 1,204,400 refugees
- Hungary 191,300
- Slovakia 141,000
- Moldova 83,000
- Romania 82,000
- Russia 99,300
- Belarus 453
More than 210,000 people have moved on from these countries to others in Europe, the UN says.
