More than 7.1 million people are internally displaced in Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion, UN agency IOM says…reports Asian Lite News Desk
More than 7.1 million people are estimated to have been internally displaced within Ukraine due to Russia’s war, according to new figures released by the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), as fighting continues to force civilians from their homes while keeping them inside the country.
The figure marks a rise from the 6.48 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) recorded in an earlier IOM assessment conducted on March 16. The latest estimate, based on a second rapid survey carried out between March 24 and April 1, puts the number of IDPs at 7,138,715 as of Friday.
“People continue to flee their homes because of war, and the humanitarian needs on the ground continue to soar,” said IOM director general Antonio Vitorino.
“Humanitarian corridors are urgently needed to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and ensure the safe transportation and delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid in order to rapidly assist those internally displaced.”
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering one of the largest displacement crises in Europe since the Second World War. Alongside those displaced within the country, more than 4.2 million Ukrainians are estimated to have fled abroad.
According to the IOM, women account for 59 percent of internally displaced people. The assessment found that displacement is widespread across the country, with nearly 2.4 million people estimated to have fled the Kyiv region, another 2.4 million from eastern areas, and 1.7 million from the north.
The survey also suggests a significant shift in internal movement patterns. Around 41 percent of IDPs, equivalent to 2.9 million people, were believed to be located in western Ukraine at the time of the assessment.
Household impacts are also severe. More than 60 percent of displaced households include children, while 57 percent include elderly members and 30 percent include people with chronic illnesses. The IOM also reported that more than a third of displaced households said they had no income in the previous month.
Beyond those already displaced, the agency warned that “more communities in need remain trapped”. It estimated that a further 2.9 million people were considering leaving their homes, indicating that the displacement crisis could continue to grow if conditions deteriorate.
When asked why some people were remaining in their homes, 16 percent cited safety concerns preventing them from leaving, while six percent said they did not want to leave family members behind. Three percent said they did not know where to go, and one percent said they were unable to leave due to health issues.
The IOM said its findings were based on interviews with 2,000 anonymous respondents aged over 18, contacted at random by telephone as part of a rapid representative assessment used to track mobility and humanitarian needs in Ukraine.
The agency identified urgent humanitarian requirements among displaced populations, including cash assistance, food, shelter, transport and hygiene supplies. It also highlighted growing demand for medicines and access to health services, warning that needs on the ground continue to rise as the conflict persists.
