On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the largest land war in Europe since World War II, the numbers have been crunched, and the results are sad and startling.
The United Nations (UN) said on February 22 that nearly a third of Ukraine's population has been forced to flee their homes at some point in the past two years since Russia launched its military campaign in the Eastern European country, with nearly 6.5 million people now living outside the country as refugees and some 3.7 million displaced within the country.
As Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine enters its third year, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that in total, more than 14 million people – nearly a third of Ukraine’s population – have fled their homes at some point during the fighting, while more than 4.5 million have returned home from abroad or from other parts of Ukraine.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned on February 22 that the war was “without end”, which had caused “extreme suffering for millions of civilians… The lasting impact of the war in Ukraine will be felt for generations”.
In its latest report, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it could corroborate the conflict-related deaths of 10,582 civilians since February 2022. It also verified that 19,875 civilians had been injured. “The actual figure could be significantly higher,” the UN agency warned.
Polish border guards help refugees from Ukraine as they set foot on Polish soil, late February 2022. Photo: DW
Speaking about the toll of the fighting since this day two years ago, IOM Director General Amy Pope said: “The widespread destruction, loss of life and suffering continue. IOM commends the Government of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine for their strength and resilience, as well as Ukraine’s neighbours who are taking in those seeking safety. We remain committed to helping alleviate people’s suffering and support recovery.”
IOM said it was assisting 6.5 million people in Ukraine and 11 countries in Eastern Europe that were hosting refugees. However, the agency pointed out that the need continued to grow, outstripping resources.
The IOM says some 14.6 million people will still need some form of humanitarian assistance in 2024. For those who have returned home, the challenges waiting for them are immense.
“Many of those returning home have faced long-term challenges… including insecurity, loss of livelihoods, damaged housing and infrastructure, and stretched social services,” said Soda Federico, IOM Director of Humanitarian Response and Rehabilitation.
“We must focus on economic recovery,” Mr. Federico stressed in the agency's report on the first two years of the war.
Since the start of the fighting, IOM has received $957 million in donations. Overall, the UN says it needs $4.2 billion this year to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine and to those seeking refuge .
Minh Duc (According to Al Jazeera, AFP/Al Arabiya)
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