More than half a million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries so far, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Monday, while the European Commission expected the displacement of more than 7 million inside or outside Ukraine as a result of Russian military action.

On Sunday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, citing data provided by national authorities, said that more than 380,000 refugees - mostly women and children - have fled the war in Ukraine to neighboring countries, and that the numbers continue to rise.

UNHCR also announced that it is preparing to deal with up to 4 million refugees from Ukraine, if Russia's war against the country continues to escalate.


Forecasts and estimates

On the other hand, US officials estimate that as many as 5 million people may be forced from their homes, and the European Union is preparing to host a million refugees.

As for the European Commission, it expected - earlier today - the displacement of more than 7 million Ukrainians inside or outside Ukraine, as a result of the Russian war on it.

EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic confirmed the estimate in Brussels on Sunday, saying the commission had already raised 90 million euros ($101 million) to provide aid to the displaced.

"We are witnessing what could be the largest humanitarian crisis on our European continent in many years. The needs are growing as we speak," Lenarcic said.

"As for the humanitarian situation in general, the currently expected number of Ukrainian displaced people is more than 7 million," he added during a press conference in Brussels after an extraordinary meeting of the interior ministers of EU member states to discuss the crisis.


exacerbation of displacement

The Russian attack - which has entered its fifth day - came to further exacerbate an already existing internal displacement problem in Ukraine, as there were already as many as 1.5 million internally displaced people in the country before last week, who had been forced to leave their homes during the Russian military intervention that occurred in 2014. and the long conflict that followed in eastern Ukraine.

For the IDPs, this means searching for food, shelter and other assistance, while they contemplate permanent resettlement in "Lviv" or wherever they can find safety.

For refugees outside Ukraine, their survival becomes more complex the longer it takes.

More than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Poland alone, according to the Polish border guards.

Approximately 5,000 US troops from the 82nd Airborne Division in Poland have set up 3 new refugee registration centers, in addition to the five existing ones.

Polish officials have also set up a system to transport the injured to at least 120 hospitals across the country, where they will eventually prepare for the arrival of up to one million refugees in the coming days and weeks.

Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes due to the Russian military operations (Reuters)

readiness and reception

Poland's borders continue to remain open, as do Ukraine's borders with EU members Slovakia and Romania.

Even Hungary, which has long been known for its anti-immigrant and anti-refugee stance, has indicated its willingness to provide humanitarian relief and shelter to Ukrainians.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban - known for his anti-immigration policy - has also gone to the border and relaxed the country's strict asylum rules.

More than 70,000 people have entered Hungary since the Russian offensive began on Thursday, police said.

The citizens, as well as the charities and mayors of the respective cities, quickly acted.

Moldova, which is not a member of the European Union, has also pledged to keep its borders open to Ukrainians, and to provide aid to them upon their arrival.

The United States and the European Union should also work with local authorities to ensure that borders remain open to vulnerable Ukrainians.

But as they stay away from their homeland, Ukrainian refugees will increasingly seek more sustainable solutions, including education for their children, job markets for adults, and freedom of movement for families within the European Union, which has been reticent about allowing such enjoyments in the past.