The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced Thursday that one million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country since the start of the war, while the United Nations urged neighboring countries to open their borders to African refugees.
Grandi said - in a tweet on Twitter - that "in just 7 days, we have witnessed the influx of one million refugees from Ukraine to its neighboring countries."
"For millions more inside Ukraine, it is time for the guns to fall silent so that humanitarian aid can arrive and save lives," he added.
Grandi said he intends to go in the next few days to Romania, Moldova and Poland, the three countries hosting the largest number of Ukrainian refugees.
On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by an overwhelming majority a non-binding resolution "demanding that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine."
condemnation of racism
On the other hand, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that it urged the authorities in countries neighboring Ukraine to open their borders to African citizens fleeing the war there, in light of reports that some of them were prevented from reaching safety.
Thousands of Africans and other foreigners - especially students - are striving to leave Ukraine.
There are complaints in video footage and testimonies circulating on social media of discrimination against Africans at train stations and border points.
Bochizia Msetika, a UNHCR spokesperson based in South Africa, said the agency had not verified the reports;
But she urges Ukraine's neighbors to ensure that everyone has access to asylum and protection.
"The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is aware of the racial profiling reports and is very concerned about them. We are aware of many of these reports, we are following up, and we have intervened where possible," he added.
"Our position is that those who seek protection should be allowed to seek safety and leave the country, regardless of nationality and ethnicity," he added.
Msetika said the commission was aware of reports of some Africans in Ukraine being prevented from boarding trains that take people to neighboring EU countries and others from agreeing to cross its borders.
"The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees obtained assurances that incidents of racial profiling are not official policies," he added.
The African Union also said it was disturbed by reports of the refusal to grant African citizens in Ukraine the right to cross the border to safe areas.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said on Twitter that it was essential that the Africans seeking evacuation had equal opportunities to return to their countries safely, and that his country would help solve the problem.
"Poland provides sanctuary to all fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine, regardless of their nationality or ethnic background," Poland's prime minister's office said on Twitter.