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UNHCR Spokesperson Melissa Fleming briefing media persons
[PHOTO: UNifeed]
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"Increases are also being seen in the numbers of
Ukrainians in Russia and other countries, although so far only a relatively
small number have applied for refugee status," UNHCR spokesperson Melissa
Fleming told journalists in Geneva. "Since the start of the year around
110,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Russia, and 750 have requested asylum in
Poland, Belarus, Czech Republic and Romania," she added.
Arrivals of the past few days are mainly clustered in
Rostov-On-Don (12,900 people, including 5,000 children) and Byransk (6,500
people). In Rostov, people are being accommodated in public buildings and some
tented camps. In Bryansk the majority are staying with relatives and friends.
UNHCR has also seen unconfirmed reports of other recent arrivals from the east
of Ukraine to Crimea.
"The rise in numbers of the past week coincides with a
recent deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine. Displaced people cite
worsening law and order, fear of abductions, human rights violations and the
disruption of state services," Fleming said.
UNHCR has increased its presence and deployed missions to
monitor displacement from the east. In Ukraine, the main challenges currently
faced by displaced people are access to social services, long-term shelter and
employment, and difficulties transferring residence registration. Most people
are provided with temporary shelter and assistance from local authorities, NGOs
and with donations of private citizens.
UNHCR has begun to distribute humanitarian assistance to
displaced people in the east, and has delivered assistance in support of
efforts by the local authorities to the town of Sviatohorsk, where the largest
concentration of internally displaced people is found. UNHCR is also launching
a self-reliance programme for vulnerable internally displaced people in western
and central Ukraine. - UNifeed