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How many refugees have fled Ukraine and where are they going? How many refugees have fled Ukraine and where are they going?
(4 days later)
More than two million people have now fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations (UN). The UK is launching a new visa scheme to help people host Ukrainian refugees in their homes.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has called it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two. More than 2.6 million people have now fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations (UN).
Which countries are Ukraine's refugees fleeing to?Which countries are Ukraine's refugees fleeing to?
Refugees are crossing to neighbouring countries to the west, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.Refugees are crossing to neighbouring countries to the west, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.
Much smaller numbers have gone to Belarus. The UN says that as of 12 March:
The UN says that as of 9 March: Poland had taken in 1,655,503 refugees
Poland has taken in 1,412,502 refugees Hungary 246,206
Hungary 214,160 Slovakia 195,980
Slovakia 165,199 Moldova 104,929 (as of 10 March)
Russia 97,098 Romania 84,671 (8 March)
Romania 84,671 Russia 105,897 (10 March)
Moldova 82,762 Belarus 938 (11 March)
Belarus 765 More than 304,000 people have gone to other European countries, the UN says.
More than 255,000 people have gone to other European countries, the UN says.
How are refugees leaving Ukraine?How are refugees leaving Ukraine?
Trains heading towards Ukraine's border have been packed, and there have been long queues of traffic on roads leading out of the country.Trains heading towards Ukraine's border have been packed, and there have been long queues of traffic on roads leading out of the country.
Some people have walked for days to reach the borders, such as this Indian man who was studying in UkraineSome people have walked for days to reach the borders, such as this Indian man who was studying in Ukraine
UN spokeswoman Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, who is in Warsaw, told the BBC it was mostly women and children making the crossing into Poland, with some facing waits of 24 hours. In some cases children were travelling with distant relatives or family members who returned to Ukraine after dropping them off, she said.UN spokeswoman Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, who is in Warsaw, told the BBC it was mostly women and children making the crossing into Poland, with some facing waits of 24 hours. In some cases children were travelling with distant relatives or family members who returned to Ukraine after dropping them off, she said.
Refugees are told they do not need documents, but should preferably have their internal or foreign passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical documentation.Refugees are told they do not need documents, but should preferably have their internal or foreign passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical documentation.
To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.
There have been reports of people from African countries being prevented from leaving Ukraine.There have been reports of people from African countries being prevented from leaving Ukraine.
'They said if you're black, you should walk''They said if you're black, you should walk'
What help are countries offering refugees?What help are countries offering refugees?
In countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care.In countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care.
Reporting from the Polish border town of Przemysl, the BBC's Mishal Husain said there were signs offering help with healthcare and onward transport, with local hospitals delivering babies and treating sick and dehydrated children. Poland's government has said it will need more money than the EU is currently offering in order to host the number of people arriving there.
Poland feels the strain of Ukraine's refugees
With placards and tears, Poles greet refugees like familyWith placards and tears, Poles greet refugees like family
Poland's government has said it will need more money than the EU is currently offering in order to host the number of people arriving there, which is now more than one million.
Reception centres have been set up in Poland like this one at Poznan UniversityReception centres have been set up in Poland like this one at Poznan University
The Romanian government is expected to fund the housing costs of 70,000 people for 30 days. Along with Hungary, it is offering cash allowances for food and clothing. Children are being given places in local schools.The Romanian government is expected to fund the housing costs of 70,000 people for 30 days. Along with Hungary, it is offering cash allowances for food and clothing. Children are being given places in local schools.
Moldova has by far the largest concentration of refugees per capita, with almost 4,000 per 100,000 residents. Its president has appealed for international help in dealing with the numbers arriving.Moldova has by far the largest concentration of refugees per capita, with almost 4,000 per 100,000 residents. Its president has appealed for international help in dealing with the numbers arriving.
Hundreds of refugees are living in this athletics centre in MoldovaHundreds of refugees are living in this athletics centre in Moldova
The Czech Republic will allow refugees to apply for a special type of visa in order to remain, and is using the Congress Centre in Prague as an assistance centre.The Czech Republic will allow refugees to apply for a special type of visa in order to remain, and is using the Congress Centre in Prague as an assistance centre.
Elsewhere, Greece and Germany are sending tents, blankets and masks to Slovakia, while France is sending medicine and other medical equipment to Poland.
The EU is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war a blanket right to stay and work throughout the 27 nations for up to three years.The EU is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war a blanket right to stay and work throughout the 27 nations for up to three years.
They would also receive social welfare and access to housing, medical treatment and schooling for children.They would also receive social welfare and access to housing, medical treatment and schooling for children.
This also applies to foreign nationals who hold permanent residence in Ukraine, students and short-term work permit holders, as well as the family members of those eligible.
Foreign nationals with short-term residence permits, who are able to safely return to their country of origin, are not included but can enter the EU to return to their country of origin.
However, there may be differences in how the system is adopted across European countries.
How is the UK helping Ukrainian refugees?How is the UK helping Ukrainian refugees?
The UK government has responded to criticism that refugees were facing too much paperwork by announcing that from Tuesday 15 March they will be able to apply for visas online. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which is being launched today, people in the UK will be able to nominate an individual or family to stay with them rent-free, or in another property, for at least six months.
Previously, those with family links to the UK were still having to travel to visa application centres to give biometric information such as fingerprints. In future they will be able to do that in the UK. Applications will be made online, and both hosts and refugees will be vetted. Hosts will receive £350 a month and there will be no cap on the numbers able to come to the UK.
On 9 March, Boris Johnson told MPs that "almost 1,000 visas" had been issued so far and that "we expect those numbers to rise to in the region of hundreds of thousands". The UK government has faced criticism over the speed and scale of its response to the refugee crisis.
Nearly 600 refugees are stuck in Calais, with many saying they were turned away for lack of paperwork. So far, people with family in the UK have been allowed to apply for visas - and on 9 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs that "almost 1,000 visas" had been issued.
The two UK schemes announced so far require Ukrainians to either have family in the UK, or a designated UK sponsor, although details of the sponsorship scheme have not yet been revealed.
What is the UK doing for Ukrainian refugees?What is the UK doing for Ukrainian refugees?
Ukraine: Does the Home Office need to get a grip?Ukraine: Does the Home Office need to get a grip?
How many Ukrainians are internally displaced?How many Ukrainians are internally displaced?
The UN's High Commission for Refugees believes more than one million people who have fled the war could be displaced within their own country. It says it's impossible to know exactly because the situation is "fluid and changing by the hour", but estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need assistance.The UN's High Commission for Refugees believes more than one million people who have fled the war could be displaced within their own country. It says it's impossible to know exactly because the situation is "fluid and changing by the hour", but estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need assistance.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have flowed into the western Ukrainian city of Lviv since the invasion began, putting a huge strain on the city's resources.Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have flowed into the western Ukrainian city of Lviv since the invasion began, putting a huge strain on the city's resources.
It has reached the limit of its capacity to help refugees, its mayor said on Monday.It has reached the limit of its capacity to help refugees, its mayor said on Monday.
The safe Ukrainian city sheltering thousandsThe safe Ukrainian city sheltering thousands
The UN says it is offering humanitarian assistance inside Ukraine "wherever necessary and possible". This includes:The UN says it is offering humanitarian assistance inside Ukraine "wherever necessary and possible". This includes:
sending a convoy into Ukraine from Poland, carrying thousands of blankets and mattressessending a convoy into Ukraine from Poland, carrying thousands of blankets and mattresses
providing folding beds to people in bomb sheltersproviding folding beds to people in bomb shelters
working with local groups to provide food and shelter for people affected, and repairs to damaged buildingsworking with local groups to provide food and shelter for people affected, and repairs to damaged buildings
setting up reception points for internally-displaced peoplesetting up reception points for internally-displaced people
The EU believes the number of refugees in total could climb to seven million.The EU believes the number of refugees in total could climb to seven million.