The European Union is preparing to deal with a humanitarian crisis of “historic” proportions as some 368,000 refugees have already fled the fighting in Ukraine, according to a United Nations estimate.
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Again on Sunday, tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees crossed the borders of neighboring countries, most often women, children and elders, after a sometimes harrowing journey.
Many leave behind a husband, father or son, while men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving their country.
In Poland, more than 44,000 people from Ukraine crossed the border in a few hours on Sunday morning, bringing to nearly 200,000 the number of refugees received in this state since the start of the Russian invasion.
A great solidarity movement has been set in motion to raise money and find them medicine, housing, meals, work or transport.
Photo AFP
Ukrainian citizens fleeing the conflict arrive on foot at the Medyka border in eastern Poland on Sunday.
That the beginning
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 5 million people could flee Ukraine if the conflict escalates.
The EU must prepare for a humanitarian crisis of “historic proportions” in Ukraine, warned European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic.
“We are witnessing what could become the biggest humanitarian crisis on our continent for many, many years,” he added.
The European Union (EU) plans to trigger for the first time a directive that would allow refugees to stay for up to three years in one of the member countries and to work there.
The Temporary Protection Directive was introduced in 2001 in response to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, but has never been used so far. It provides for the granting of temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons.
Currently, most Ukrainians arriving in the EU can stay visa-free for 90 days. Many are being hosted by relatives and a limited number have applied for asylum so far.
The proposal will have to be endorsed by at least 15 EU Member States out of 27, representing at least 65% of the European population. A majority of interior ministers have already expressed support.
At our house too
In Canada and elsewhere on the continent, voices are being raised for governments to do more to facilitate the reception of Ukrainian refugees.
On Saturday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stressed that it is prioritizing applications related to Ukraine.
Since January 19, 2022, the Ministry has approved under various programs almost 2000 applications from Ukrainian nationals and persons residing in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Quebec Premier François Legault assured that the province would “do its part” to welcome Ukrainians in need “in the weeks and months to come”.
— With AFP