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Rabat – Over half a million people left Ukraine to seek refuge in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Amid the Ukrainian crisis and the rising tensions with Russia who has threatened to use nuclear weapons, several Ukrainian and foreigners sought shelter in subway stations for days before fleeing to other neighboring countries.
“The number of refugees from Ukraine who have crossed to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries is escalating and is now 368,000,” tweeted Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for HCR.
Grandi highlighted the necessity for neighboring countries to keep borders open and welcome refugees, noting, “it is now urgent to share this responsibility in concrete ways.”
The UN institution noted that more than 280,000 people fled Ukraine into Poland alone, while 85,000 crossed into Hungary, over 36,000 into Moldova, around 32,500 into Romania, approximately 30,000 into Slovakia, and over 300 into Belarus.
Ukrainian citizens are exempt from visa requirements in the European Union and Switzerland in particular.
Many of those who fled were mainly women, children, and elderly since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prohibited men of military age between 18 to 60 from leaving the country.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also affirmed that his country is ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees, while Croatian Red Cross alongside other authorities are considering plans to host refugees in Croatia.
UNHCR spokesman Chris Melzor said in a tweet there were queues of 14 kilometers at the Poland-Ukraine border where people waited for 40 hours in the cold at night.
The UNHCR has also expressed concern over the fast-deteriorating and alarming situation in Ukraine following the Russian military’s February 24 offensive in the country.
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