UN releases updated data on Ukrainian refugees
10 December 11:56
There are 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide, of whom 6.2 million are registered in Europe and another 560,200 outside of it. Such data as of November 2024 are contained in the latest bulletin of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
The UN has noted an increase in the number of Ukrainians leaving the country compared to the data recorded in the summer months. People cite problems with electricity supply and lack of security as reasons for leaving. And recently, as noted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, housing problems have been ranked third on the list.
Internal migration and evacuation
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as of August 2024, 3.67 million Ukrainians have fled their homes and sought temporary shelter in the country.
Since the beginning of August, according to local authorities, more than 128,000 people have been evacuated from Donetsk region, including 24,000 from the areas of active hostilities. Transit centers set up with international support provide temporary housing, medical care and psychosocial services to people forced to leave their homes.
Approximately 330,000 people remain in the government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, including 63,000 in the areas of active hostilities.
Supporting vulnerable groups
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ strategy remains focused on protecting vulnerable groups. For example, in Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, special spaces have been created where children from IDP families can receive educational assistance or psychosocial support.
In rural areas of Ukraine, UNHCR and its partners are distributing kits to help insulate homes and protect them from frost.
In addition, more than 550,000 people are receiving cash assistance to cover electricity and heating costs.
Lack of funding
In 2024, the UN Refugee Agency requested $993.3 million to help Ukrainians who fled their homes, but only 52 percent of this amount has been received so far.
The situation is similar with the Regional Response Plan, jointly drawn up by the UN Refugee Agency and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: only 60 percent of the required $3.11 billion has been collected.
The UN has called on the international community to support measures to save lives and help the Ukrainian people, who have shown incredible resilience.
