Topline
Most refugees from Ukraine hope to return home eventually but are waiting until fighting subsides, according to a new report from the United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) published Wednesday, underscoring the ongoing upheaval millions are facing more than four months after Russia invaded.
More than 5 million have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded.
Key Facts
While most Ukrainian refugees said they hoped to return as soon as possible, around two thirds plan to stay in their host countries until fighting stops, according to interviews with nearly 5,000 refugees in Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia between mid-May and mid-June.
Sixteen percent of refugees interviewed said they were planning on returning to Ukraine soon, though 60% were not sure when they would actually do so.
Only 40% planned to return within the next month, according to the report, and 15% were only planning to stay temporarily in order to visit family, get supplies or help other relatives evacuate.
Around a quarter of refugees planning to return said they were motivated by their livelihood or the need to access basic services, UNHCR found, suggesting that many are having difficulty accessing services in host countries.
Nine percent of refugees planned on moving to another host country within the next month, according to the report, with a third flagging Germany as their intended destination, followed by the Czech Republic (7%) and Canada (5%).
The report said many refugees highlighted accessing employment, language courses, childcare, education, housing and other forms of support, particularly for those with specialized needs, as important factors influencing their ability to stay in host countries and many expressed difficulty planning for the future given the uncertainties surrounding the conflict.
Big Number
5.5 million. That’s how many refugees have fled Ukraine to other European countries amid the war, according to U.N. estimates. Over 7.1 million are internally displaced within Ukraine and nearly 16 million require urgent humanitarian assistance, the agency added. Since Russia invaded in late February, the U.N. said there have been around 8.4 million border crossings recorded out of Ukraine, though authorities say some 3.1 million people have moved back into the country.
Key Background
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine precipitated the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II and triggered dire conditions for millions more unable to leave. Women and children make up the vast majority of those fleeing, with most men of fighting age barred from leaving. Data shows that most refugees initially fled to neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia, though European Union borders are porous and movement within the area is not monitored.
Further Reading
UN Predicts More Than 8 Million Refugees Will Flee Ukraine This Year (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2022/07/13/most-ukrainian-refugees-want-to-return-home-but-are-waiting-the-war-out-un-study-finds/