More than 1.5 million people have already fled Ukraine, the UN warned on Sunday March 6. This is the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
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The number of people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine exceeded the 1.5 million mark, constituting the fastest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War, alerted the UN on Sunday March 6.
” More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine crossed to neighboring countries in ten days. This is the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II “, said in a tweet High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighboring countries in 10 days — the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
—Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 6, 2022
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported on Saturday nearly 1.37 million refugees.
The authorities and the UN expect the flow to intensify further, the Russian army continuing its offensive, particularly in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.
Attacks on health centers
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, reports of attacks on health centers in Ukraine are on the rise.
” The WHO has authenticated several attacks on health care in Ukraine, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Other information is being verified WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet on Sunday.
.@WHO has confirmed several attacks on health care in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated. Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law. #NotATarget https://t.co/Wdc2jeoHIB
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 6, 2022
” Attacks on medical facilities or health care workers violate medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law “, he recalled.
Poland is the main host country for the flow of refugees, which followed the first hostilities.
Since February 24, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, 922,400 people fleeing the conflict have entered Poland, Polish border guards announced on Sunday morning.
The day before, Saturday, arrivals reached a record level with 129,000 travellers, the vast majority of citizens of Ukraine, but also from several other countries including Poland, Uzbekistan, Belarus, India, Nigeria , Algeria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and Russia, according to the same source.
According to the UN, 4 million people may want to leave the country to escape the war.
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According to the first WHO situation report published on Saturday evening, 18 million people are affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
WHO has deployed staff to Moldova, Romania and Poland to increase its response capabilities. The UN health agency has also mobilized logistics experts in Poland to set up an operations center and help secure land corridors, to facilitate the rapid delivery of assistance to affected populations.
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On March 4, WHO shipped its first batch of medical supplies to Poland, which arrived in Ukraine by land. This assistance should in particular make it possible to meet the health needs of 150,000 people, including 1,000 people requiring surgical care.
A second shipment was on its way Saturday.
(with AFP)