UN refugee agency warns of ‘sharp rise’ in people fleeing eastern Ukraine
27 June 2014
Some 16,400 people fled their homes in crisis-riven eastern Ukraine during the past week, bringing the number of
displaced within the country to 54,000, according the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
“Many cite a deteriorating situation and fear of abduction for the sharp rise in displacement,” said UNHCR spokeswoman
Melissa Fleming, adding “Increases were also being seen in the numbers of Ukrainians in Russia and other countries,
although so far only a small number had applied for refugee status.”
Since the start of 2014, approximately 110,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Russia – with only 9,600 requesting asylum –
while more than 700 others went to Poland, Belarus, Czech Republic and Romania.
"Most people are seeking other forms of legal stay, often we are told because of concerns about complications or
reprisals in case of return to Ukraine," Ms. Fleming explained, as she briefed reporters in Geneva
Over the past few days, arrivals clustered mainly in Rostov-On-Don and Byransk. In Rostov, 12,900 people – including
5,000 children – were being accommodated in public buildings and tented camps. In Bryansk, the majority were staying
with relatives and friends. UNHCR was also seeing unconfirmed reports of other recent arrivals in Russia from eastern
regions of Ukraine and Crimea.
The acute rise in numbers over the past week coincided with the recent deterioration of the situation in eastern
Ukraine. Displaced people cited worsening law and order, human rights violations and the disruption of State services
are among the complex myriad of reasons for the poulation flows.
“Some reported they had lost their livelihoods and feared they would be unable to continue working with Ukrainian
professional licences while others feared being forced to acquire Russian citizenship. And some said they had received
personal threats on account of their political opinion or ethnic or linguistic background,” Ms. Fleming elaborated.
Unable to verify all information on displacement, UNHCR has had to rely on local and central authorities; partners; and
civil society organizations.
“Insecurity in some areas of Ukraine was hampering access to many areas where displaced people were located,” stressed
Ms. Fleming.
Challenges faced by the displaced included access to social services; long-term shelter and employment; and difficulties
transferring residence registration.
Ms. Fleming noted, “Most people were provided with temporary shelter and assistance from local authorities,
non-governmental organization and donations of private citizens. UNHCR began distributing humanitarian assistance to
those displaced in the East while supporting the local authorities in Sviatohorsk – the town with the largest
concentration of internally displaced people.”
One journalist questioned the UNHCR spokesperson on whether the Ukrainian President’s intention to sign an agreement
with the European Union could trigger further flight and if reports were valid that people arriving in Russia were being
killed for speaking Russian.
“The reasons for displacement were sporadic fighting, armed groups, people afraid, people unable to work, human rights
violations and people feeling threatened because of their ethnic background,” Ms. Fleming responded.
ENDS