By Michael Seifert
The Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered a huge wave of refugees. The number of people fleeing is increasing daily. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than 1,3 million refugees (as of 4 March) have already crossed the Ukrainian borders into the EU and Moldova, including more than 750,000 into Poland alone. More than 130,000 have already travelled on from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, including to Germany. The UNHCR estimates that up to four million of the approximately 40 million inhabitants will leave the country. That would be an even larger number than in 2015/16, when 2.5 million people fled to Europe.
Observers expect that many of the refugees will go to relatives and friends. Many people from Ukraine already live abroad, most in Poland and Italy. In Germany alone, there are 331,000 people with Ukrainian roots, more than half of whom have German citizenship.
To receive the new refugees, the EU Commission and the interior ministers of the EU countries are planning to put into effect for the first time a possibility that has existed legally since 2001: If the normal reception procedures for asylum seekers can no longer be carried out due to the large rush, all EU member states would implement the same unbureaucratic procedure for taking in war refugees. Refugees from Ukraine would not have to go through a lengthy asylum procedure. They would receive temporary protection in the EU for up to three years.
The state of Baden-Württemberg is also preparing for the expected refugees, according to the Ministry of Justice and Migration. According to this, the state’s initial reception facilities will take in all people from Ukraine who are not staying with relatives or friends. Ukrainian nationals who are currently here for a short stay without a visa can obtain permission for a further stay from the foreigners authorities.
There are many reports in the media about the great willingness to help refugees at the borders to the EU. However, people who do not have a Ukrainian passport and want to leave the country because of the war, such as students or workers from other, e.g. African, countries, are apparently detained for days at the border. UNHCR Commissioner Grandi therefore stressed that there should be no discrimination among people fleeing Ukraine – all are fleeing the same dangers. He referred to reports of different treatment at the borders, which were also reported by German media.
Sources: UNHCR documents, Federal Statistical Office, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice and Migration Baden-Württemberg. The latest information from UNHCR is available at: Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation (unhcr.org)
Further news on Ukraine: www.tuenews-ukraine.eu
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Im Ortsteil Derendingen in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, gibt es eine Erstunterkunft für geflüchtete Menschen. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
