UNHCR: 1,5 Million Fled Ukraine Amid Escalating Conflict

Rabat – The number of people fleeing Ukraine to neighboring countries amid the ongoing Russian invasion has exceeded 1.5 million, making it the fastest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The UNHCR expects the number to intensify in the coming days, with Poland being the main host country for Ukrainian refugees. Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia have also received several refugees from Ukraine.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the UN estimates that nearly 4 million people may flee Ukraine to escape the escalating conflicts.

In a recent report highlighting the humanitarian urgency and worldwide significance of the escalating conflict in Ukraine, the World Health Organization noted that a total of 18 million people have so far been affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

WHO has deployed staff to several of Ukraine’s neighboring countries to increase its response capacity. The UN-affiliated global health body has also mobilized logistics experts in Poland to set up an operational center to facilitate rapid assistance to affected people.

It sent its first batch of medical supplies to Poland on March 4 to provide for the health needs of 150,000 people, including 1,000 people requiring surgical care.

Earlier today, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the UN is committed to scaling-up humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

As of March 2, around 3,984 Moroccans had fled Ukraine after the North African country took several measures to repatriate stranded citizens amid the alarming situation.

The Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc has scheduled Budapest-Casablanca flights for March 7-8 to repatriate Moroccans who have fled Ukraine with a ticket price fixed at MAD 750 ($75).