Civilian populations are always the first victims of a war. The conflict in Ukraine is no exception. Since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, nearly 5.4 million Ukrainians have fled their country, according to figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published on Thursday April 28.
A number that continues to increase as Moscow’s troops intensify their offensive, particularly in the Donbass and the south of the country, still pounded by Russian artillery. Some have nevertheless already decided to return to their country, while the Russian army has withdrawn from several regions, such as that of the capital kyiv, where several heads of state and representatives have visited in recent weeks.
- How many Ukrainian refugees are hosted in France?
Among the countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, France is home to more than 70,000, according to figures from the French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii) published on Wednesday 27 April. The latter could be counted via the allowance for asylum seekers (Ada), the most reliable indicator for measuring the number of displaced Ukrainians settled in France. “Today we exceed the 70,000 displaced Ukrainians covered by the allowance,” said the director general of this administration, the prefect Didier Leschi.
Some 34,700 Ada cards have been issued to Ukrainian families, said the body under the Ministry of the Interior which pays this allowance. The Ministry of the Interior had previously provided estimates based on border police (Paf) checks, but these figures include Ukrainians who continue on their way to other countries such as Italy or people who have arrived on the French soil without having been checked.
- What allowance do they get?
As soon as they arrive on the territory, Ukrainian refugees are expected in one of the reception points distributed in France (Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, etc.) “for immediate care. A first emergency accommodation is provided to them. allocated, transitional place before access to more sustainable housing”, explains the site Administrative procedures.
They are eligible for asylum seekers’ allowance, which is granted to them even if they do not need to apply for asylum. The European Union (EU) has granted refugees from Ukraine temporary protection status, for a maximum of three years, which allows them to work, have access to housing and health services and of education. It amounts to 6.80 euros per day and for one person. In total, in March, France had 135,466 Ada beneficiaries, up sharply from the previous month (107,039, +26.6%) but stable compared to March 2021 (+1%).
Recipients of this allowance must meet several criteria: have accepted the material reception conditions offered by the Ofii; be at least 18 years old; be in possession of the asylum seeker certificate (excluding Ukrainian refugees); have submitted your asylum application to the Ofpra within 21 days (except Dublin procedure); have monthly resources lower than the amount of the RSA, specifies the site of the French Administration.
- What other countries did they mainly go to?
Europe has not seen such a flood of refugees since the Second World War. Of the 5.4 million Ukrainians, nearly six out of ten, according to the UNHCR, have fled to Poland, which hosts by far the largest number, although some then go to other European countries. Poland has received some 560 million euros in European funds to help with their care, according to a Commission press release published on Thursday (April 28th).
According to the distribution published by Brussels, Poland received 562 million euros, followed by Italy (452 million euros), Romania (450 million), Spain (434 million). France received 123 million euros. The European executive has paid a total of 3.5 billion euros to the 27 Member States for the reception of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. These are funds released in advance, from the “React-EU” program in favor of cohesion and the territories of Europe, planned as part of the post-Covid recovery plan.
More than 870,000 Ukrainians have also returned home since the start of the war, including women and children, the Ukrainian border guard service announced on 12 April. “Currently, 25,000 to 30,000 Ukrainians a day are returning to their country. Unlike in the early days when it was mostly men, now there are also women, children and the elderly,” the porter said. word of Ukrainian border guard Andriy Demchenko.
The UN also estimates the number of internally displaced persons at 7.1 million, according to figures released on 5 April. In total, therefore, almost 12 million people, more than a quarter of the population, have had to leave their homes either by crossing the border to reach neighboring countries, or by finding refuge elsewhere in Ukraine.