Geneva:
The number of people displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has surpassed 1.5 million, making it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, the United Nations said on Sunday.
“More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have entered neighboring countries in 10 days,” tweeted UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grande.
More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have entered neighboring countries in 10 days – the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 6, 2022
The UN described the outflow as “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”. On Saturday, it was reported that nearly 1.37 million refugees had fled.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
“@WHO has confirmed several attacks on healthcare in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are under investigation,” Tedros tweeted.
†@WHO has confirmed several attacks on healthcare in #Ukrainewhich resulted in several deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated. Attacks on healthcare facilities or employees violate medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law. #NotATargethttps://t.co/Wdc2jeoHIB
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 6, 2022
“Attacks on healthcare facilities or employees violate medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law.”
The WHO said on Sunday it had deployed personnel to Moldova, Poland and Romania “to scale up (the) response capacities of its country offices, including operations, cooperation with partners and support to the (Ukrainian) government for the health response”.
The body said it had also mobilized logistics to set up an operational hub in neighboring Poland and help secure land corridors “to facilitate rapid movement of supplies to affected populations”.
It added that a second shipment of health supplies was on its way to Poland, following a first shipment on Thursday of trauma and emergency relief supplies.
The WHO had previously condemned a slew of verified reports of attacks on healthcare in Ukraine.
UN officials said they expected the flow of refugees to increase further as the Russian military continues its offensive, particularly towards the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, a total of 922,400 people have fled from Ukraine to Poland, Polish border guards said Sunday.
Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia have also seen Ukrainian refugees arrive.
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