As the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its third year, the UN said Thursday that more than 14 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine.
The United Nations has said more than 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes at one time or another in the two years since Russia’s invasion, as the rights chief UN chief Volker Turk has spoken of the “horrific human cost” of the conflict.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday that almost 6.5 million people were now living outside the country as refugees. She added that around 3.7 million people remain displaced within Ukraine.
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, said of the toll of the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24, 2022: “The destruction is widespread, the loss of life and suffering continues. continue”: “The destruction is widespread, the loss of life and suffering continues.
The IOM said it had helped 6.5 million people in Ukraine and 11 Eastern European countries hosting refugees. However, she stressed that needs continued to increase, outpacing resources.
Some 14.6 million people will still need some form of humanitarian assistance in 2024, according to the IOM.
For those returning home, the challenges are immense. Federico Soda, director of IOM’s Humanitarian Response and Recovery Department, said returnees were facing “insecurity, loss of livelihoods, damaged housing and infrastructure, and strained services.”
February 24 will mark the two-year anniversary of the war.