The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Tuesday that 5 million people had been forced to flee Ukraine following Russia’s military invasion of the neighboring country on February 24.
From Hungary, where nearly half a million Ukrainians have taken refuge, Deputy High Commissioner Kelly Clement urged the Security Council to “put aside” divisions and find a way to end this “horrific and irrational war”.
“Every one of the millions displaced has had to make decisions that break your heart,” she added, addressing the ambassadors of the 15 SA member states.
In addition to refugees, there are some 7 million internally displaced people in Ukraine, said Antonio Vitorinou of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Officials from the two UNHCR services spoke at the sixth meeting of the Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine since the start of the Russian military offensive almost two months ago.
Several Member States have insisted on the need to offer more support to refugees and end the armed conflict.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kislytsia, present at yesterday’s meeting, criticized the fact that the Security Council continues to treat Russia as a full member state. “Colleagues, it seems to me that these meetings will not change much,” he said.
Russia is a permanent member of the US with a veto.
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