The United Nations International Organization for Migration announced that the number of Ukrainian refugees who have fled their country has exceeded 2.5 million, more than half of them in neighboring Poland, while about two million others have been internally displaced since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
According to this organization, 1.5 million Ukrainians sought refuge in Poland, 225 thousand in Hungary, 165 thousand in Slovakia, 99 thousand in Russia, about 85 thousand in Romania, and 282,000 in other European countries.
For its part, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that at least 1.8 million people have been displaced within Ukraine itself.
The United Nations was planning its humanitarian needs on the assumption that about 4 million Ukrainian refugees would seek to secure their safety abroad, but an official in charge of refugees with the organization said that they may have to adjust the plan after about 200,000 people fled to neighboring countries in the past 24 hours.
"It is very possible to adjust the projected number of refugees, which is 4 million, upwards. It will not be a surprise," UNHCR spokesman Matthew Soltmarsh told reporters, during a visit to the border with Poland.
Saltmarsh added that humanitarian agencies are accelerating their efforts to provide heating equipment to the thousands of refugees waiting at border crossings, in freezing temperatures.
There are hundreds of thousands trapped by heavy bombardment inside the cities and towns of Ukraine, as their supplies are running out, while the Ukrainian and Russian sides blame each other for the failure to reach a cease-fire.
A report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today, Friday, stated that psychological support services are being provided online from inside basements in Ukraine due to the security situation.
On the other hand, the Chinese "CGTN" network said that a shipment of aid from the country arrived at the border between Romania and Ukraine, carrying foodstuffs and other basic items worth 5 million yuan.
China's humanitarian supplies for #Ukraine arrived at the border between Romania and Ukraine on Friday.
These supplies, including food and daily necessities, are worth about 5 million yuan.
pic.twitter.com/rqVx7UKihm
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) March 11, 2022