War in Ukraine: 14 million uprooted – The largest displacement of people in decades

THE invasion of the Russian army in Ukraine on February 24 he challenged the fastest and largest displacement of civilians worldwide for decades, according to the head of the High Commission of United States for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Some 14 million people were forced to leave their homes” since the outbreak of the war, emphasized Philip Grandiwho expressed himself before the United Nations Security Council yesterday Wednesday.

“Ukrainians are heading for one of the harshest winters in the world with extremely difficult conditions”Mr. Grandy said in his intervention, calling “to end this senseless war”.

According to the Italian, “The devastation from the damage to political infrastructure, which is unfolding as we speak, is quickly making the humanitarian response look like a drop in the ocean of need.”.

Due to damage to energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian government recently urged refugees not to return to the country before spring 2023.

According to UNHCR data, over 7 million citizens of Ukraine sought protection abroad, of which almost 1.5 million in Poland and over 1 million in Germany.

Fierce battles in Bahamut and Soledar

The Ukrainian government spoke yesterday (2/11) of new heavy fighting in the cities of Bakhmut and Soledar, in the Donbass (east).

“Dozens of Attacks” they were repelled within a day, Deputy Defense Minister Hana Maliar told Ukrainian television yesterday.

Every time Russian forces advance, the Ukrainian army reacts by launching a counterattack, he assured.

At the same time, according to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia’s military continues to attack infrastructure in Ukrainian regions using missiles and Iranian UAVs.

According to authorities in Kharkiv region, five women and two men were injured in such attacks. Four residences, two apartment buildings and a commercial store were hit by Russian artillery, they added.

The government is asking citizens not to post information about missing soldiers online

The Ukrainian government has urged citizens not to post details of missing soldiers or civilians online as it could help the Russians track down “valuable” prisoners and people trying to evade capture.

The Undersecretary of Defense Hannah Maliar explained that many people are turning to social media platforms to gather information, especially about soldiers who have been captured or are missing. “Why are these posts dangerous? The problem is that this particular person may indeed be a prisoner, but the enemy may think he is a civilian.”he wrote on Telegram.

Another possibility is that the “missing person” is simply hiding in the occupied territories and looking for a way to return home. “By posting data and photos of these people you give the enemy a reference point for their investigations”he added.

According to Maliar, publishing details about the lives, political views, social contacts or work history of missing persons complicates the process of securing their release and often puts their lives at risk. “It encourages the enemy to scrutinize a particular individual and as a result requests for exchange (of prisoners) increase and the process itself becomes more complicated”he insisted.

Ukrainians who are worried that they cannot locate one of their own should contact the Defense Ministry’s special unit dealing with prisoners of war, the deputy minister said, recalling that so far Russia has exchanged about 1,030 Ukrainian prisoners, men and women. .