Over 2.4 million people have fled Ukraine: IOM

PRZEMYSL, Poland - More than 2.4 million Ukrainians have fled their country so far due to Russian invasion of their country, according to the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

“There are more than 2.4 million already out of the country,” Antonio Vitorino, Director General of IOM, told Rudaw’s Zinar Shino in Poland’s Korczowa on Thursday, adding that this figure includes third-country nationals.

Vitorino also said that 1.4 million of these refugees have fled to Poland, describing the exodus as “the fastest growing and the largest refugee crisis in Europe for many many years - probably since the Second World War.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and it has controlled several areas so far. Despite calls from the international community for suspension of the invasion, Russia seems determined to go ahead with what it calls “a special operation.” 

After a short rest in stores and halls in the market in Poland, Ukrainian refugees head to a European country they want to go to. European countries have supported these people to reach their destinations. 

Ira is the wife of a Kurd from Erbil. She left her parents in Kyiv and is going to join her husband in Denmark. 

“I am from Zhytomyr which is a big city. Everyone left the city because it has been bombarded and roads have been blocked,” she told Rudaw on Friday. 

Ira also said that it took her about a week to arrive in Poland, adding that she left her parents behind because of her grandmother’s sickness