The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine due to the war unleashed by Russia has reached 7.7 million compared to 854 thousand before the start of the war, as of April 21 this estimate was given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR ), which as of April 6 estimated this figure at 7.1 million.
“The Russian Federation launched a military offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To date, more than 5 million refugees have left Ukraine, making this the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. Another 7.7 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine,” it says in a report on his website.
UNHCR estimates that some 13 million people are stuck in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads, and a lack of resources or information on where to find safety and shelter.
The organization notes that the delivery of vital aid remains challenging due to the lack of safe humanitarian access.
Citing UNICEF and WASH partners, UNHCR reports that 1.4 million people are currently without access to water in eastern Ukraine and that another 4.6 million people across Ukraine are at risk of losing such access. The organization also points to the persistence of the difficult situation in Kherson.
“UNHCR continues to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and neighboring countries to continue to keep their borders open to refugees,” the report emphasizes.
As Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on April 13, 1 million people have already registered as new IDPs as a result of the Russian invasion. The state announced that it would make monthly payments for registered IDPs in the amount of UAH 2,000 per adult and UAH 3,000 per child.
According to UNHCR data, as of 13:00 on April 22, a total of 5.16 million people left Ukraine since the beginning of the war (excluding the flow to enter), of which 2.88 million went to Poland, 838.86 thousand to Romania and Moldova. , Russia – 578.26 thousand, Hungary – 485.62 thousand, Slovakia – 352.29 thousand, Belarus – 23.9 thousand.
The UNHCR, referring to data from the State Border Service of April 22, also indicated that since February 28, the flow to enter Ukraine amounted to 1.12 million people, thus the total number of refugees is about 4 million.