‘Half a million displaced by Ukraine conflict’
3 Sep 2014 12:32 AM GMT
Fighting in Ukraine has forced over half a million people to flee their homes, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday, warning that the spiralling crisis could could ‘destabilise the whole region’. At least 260,000 have been displaced within Ukraine, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said, adding that Moscow has reported that another 260,000 people have sought asylum in Russia.
Those numbers were meanwhile believed to be an underestimate, he said, pointing out that ‘many are staying with families and friends and choose not to register with the authorities.’ On August 20, UNHCR put the number of people displaced inside Ukraine at 190,000, while Moscow said some 197,400 had fled to Russia. UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres warned of dire consequences if the spiralling crisis in eastern Ukraine.
Those numbers were meanwhile believed to be an underestimate, he said, pointing out that ‘many are staying with families and friends and choose not to register with the authorities.’ On August 20, UNHCR put the number of people displaced inside Ukraine at 190,000, while Moscow said some 197,400 had fled to Russia. UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres warned of dire consequences if the spiralling crisis in eastern Ukraine.
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