More than 4 million have fled from Ukraine

By Mikoto Hata / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

15:03 JST, March 31, 2022

MEDYKA, Poland — The number of people who have fled war-torn Ukraine has exceeded 4 million, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

Tired refugees, including mothers and children, carrying loads of luggage arrive in neighboring Poland every day to escape Russia’s military offensive.

A 40-year-old restaurant employee from the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa arrived at the Polish town of Medyka with her 9-year-old daughter on Wednesday.

“After the invasion, we lived in fear,” she said. “I lost my job and decided to leave the country. I am a little relieved to be able to cross the border.”

Ninety percent of the refugees are women and children, according to UNHCR. Many of them head to Ukraine’s neighboring countries, but some countries are reaching their limit to accept refugees.