More than 3.38 million Ukrainian refugees had fled to neighboring countries as of noon on March 20, New York time, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Poland alone hosts more than 2.05 million Ukrainian refugees.
Poland welcomes more than 2 million refugees
Kristin Goyer, UNHCR Representative in Poland, said: “The Polish people, local communities, municipalities and governments have made a huge effort to receive and host new migrants. It is now important for the international community to step up and help provide a more durable support, while ensuring and maintaining access to protection and asylum for all those seeking safety at the Polish border.”
In response to the current refugee situation in Ukraine, UNHCR is managing the Polish component of the Regional Refugee Response Plan, working to strengthen the country’s reception capacity. This work will raise funds for UNHCR and global partners to support Poland to better protect Ukrainian refugees in areas ranging from housing to education, basic needs, water and sanitation, child protection and gender-based violence.
UNHCR is also working closely with partners and authorities to launch a cash assistance programme in the country worth more than $190 million to help refugees get through and meet their basic needs until they can receive further support .
At the Ukrainian border, UNHCR has been working with partners and increasing staff to help support volunteers and reception centres with information, protection training and specialized interventions.
UNHCR’s work in Poland is also focused on bringing essential life-saving supplies to Ukraine.
Goyer said Polish authorities have been warning that many parts of the country are nearing capacity to host refugees. UNHCR welcomes the commitments made by communities further from the border who have expressed a willingness to provide accommodation. UNHCR encourages refugees to take advantage of this opportunity to choose asylum elsewhere in Poland.
Of the 2 million people who entered Poland from Ukraine, some have traveled to other EU countries, although most refugees are believed to remain in Poland, the UNHCR said.
Civilian casualties on the rise
The latest figures for civilian casualties confirmed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights indicate that since Russia launched an all-out war against Ukraine on February 24, the country has suffered 2,361 civilian casualties, including 902 dead and 1,459 wounded. The actual number may be much higher.
Among the dead were 11 girls and 25 boys, as well as 179 men and 134 women; 39 children and 514 adults also died in the conflict, although their gender has not been determined.
In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine, there were 992 casualties (248 killed, 744 wounded). Of these, there were 756 casualties (195 killed and 561 wounded) in government-controlled territories. In territories controlled by the so-called “Donetsk Republics” and “Luhansk Republics” beyond the line of contact, the UN Human Rights Office recorded 236 casualties (53 killed and 183 wounded).
In other parts of Ukraine (City of Kyiv and Cherkash, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Nikolayev, Odessa, Sumy, Zaporozhye, Dnipro Petrovsk and Zhytomyr regions), which were under government control at the time of casualties, had 1,369 recorded victims (654 killed and 715 injured) as of March 19.
OHCHR noted that most of the civilian casualties recorded by the agency were the result of shelling with a wide range of explosive weapons, including heavy artillery and multiple rocket systems, as well as missile and air strikes.
The actual number of casualties is much higher
OHCHR believes the actual figures are much higher, especially in government-controlled territories, especially in recent days, as there has been a delay in receiving information from some places where there has been intense hostilities, and many reports remain Awaiting verification.
For example, in Mariupol and Vornovaha (Donetsk Oblast), Izin (Kharkov Oblast), West Verodonetsk and Rubizny (Luhansk Oblast), and Rostianets (Sume Oblast), where there are alleged to be many civilian casualties. These figures are being further confirmed, so are not included in the above statistics.
OHCHR took note of the report of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, according to which 115 children had been killed and more than 140 injured as of 8 am (local time) on 20 March. OHCHR also took note of the report of the head of the Kharkov Regional State Police Investigation Unit, according to which 266 civilians, including 14, had been killed in the region as of 6 p.m. (local time) on 19 March. child.
For more information, please follow: Focus on Ukraine Crisis Special Report | Focus Topics