Metro
More than 3.9 million Ukrainians flee war
More than 3.9 million Ukrainians have now fled Russia’s invasion of their country, the United Nations announced Tuesday, with the Red Cross saying refugees were arriving exhausted and feeling “hopeless”.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 3,901,713 Ukrainians had fled the country — a figure up 38,916 from Monday’s update.
The daily flow of refugees has slowed to around 40,000 in recent days.
But the exodus “is unprecedented since World War II in Europe, certainly in terms of the speed and scale of the displacement,” UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva.
Francesco Rocca, the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), added: “We are seeing millions of people arriving at borders, their coping capacities stretched by what they have experienced and witnessed.
“People are understandably tired and stressed, physically, mentally and emotionally,” he said.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration said that in addition to Ukrainian refugees, close to 200,000 non-Ukrainians living, studying and working in the country have fled.
And as of March 16, some 6.48 million people were estimated to be internally displaced within Ukraine, according to an IOM representative survey.
Before Russia’s February 24 invasion, Ukraine had a population of 37 million in the regions under government control, excluding Russia-annexed Crimea and the pro-Russian separatist regions in the east.
Here is a breakdown of how many Ukrainian refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, according to UNHCR:
– Poland –
Six out of 10 Ukrainian refugees — 2,314,623 so far — have crossed into Poland, according to UNHCR.
Many people who cross into Ukraine’s immediate western neighbours travel onto other states in Europe’s Schengen open-borders zone.
– Romania –
The number of Ukrainians who have entered EU member state Romania has now topped 600,000.
These 602,461 Ukrainians include a large number who crossed over from Moldova, wedged between Romania and Ukraine.
The vast majority are thought to have gone on to other countries.
IFRC president Rocca visited Romania last week.
“Romanian Red Cross teams have been working 24/7 at border crossings since day one, showing great empathy and humanity, providing basic items as well as SIM cards and mobile charging stations to help people,” he said Tuesday.
“Many who have crossed the border simply ask for a cup of coffee or tea. Seemingly simple aid like this can offer families peace of mind in an otherwise hopeless moment.”
– Moldova –
The Moldovan border is the nearest to the major port city of Odessa.
UNHCR said 385,222 Ukrainians had crossed into the non-EU state, one of the poorest in Europe.
To reduce congestion, organised convoys leave daily from the Palanca crossing for Romania, with the most vulnerable prioritised for transfer.
– Hungary –
Some 359,197 Ukrainians have entered Hungary, according to UNHCR.
– Slovakia –
Some 278,238 people have crossed Ukraine’s shortest border into Slovakia.
– Russia –
Some 271,254 refugees have sought shelter in Russia, according to UNHCR figures last updated on March 22.
In addition, 113,000 people crossed into Russia from the separatist-held pro-Russian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine between February 21 and 23.
UNHCR spokesman Saltmarsh said Tuesday the agency was aware of recent allegations of forced movements of people from Ukraine to Russia but could not corroborate such information.
– Belarus –
Some 9,875 refugees have made it north to Russia’s close ally Belarus.
Tragedy struck Oda Community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State after a 38-year-old man was arrested by the police for allegedly killing his biological father during a violent domestic dispute.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
According to the police, the incident began as a heated disagreement between the father and son before it escalated into a physical confrontation that turned deadly.
“During the confrontation, the deceased reportedly sustained severe injuries, particularly to the head. He was immediately rushed to a medical facility for urgent attention,” Jimoh said.
Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, the father was confirmed dead by the attending doctor while receiving treatment.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the matter was formally reported to the police by another son of the deceased, identified as Daniel Moses, who is also a brother to the suspect.
“Following a formal complaint lodged at the police station by one Daniel Moses, a son of the deceased and brother to the suspect, detectives promptly commenced investigation into the matter. Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives apprehended the suspect and took him into custody for questioning,” the statement added.
Jimoh further confirmed that the remains of the deceased had been deposited in the mortuary, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.
He added that the suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the abduction of Mrs Busayo Adelabu John-Paul, a younger sister of a former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons by suspected gunmen in Ibadan.
The opposition party, while expressing concern over the worsening security situation in the state, called on Governor Seyi Makinde to work more closely with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to stem the growing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes.
Mrs John-Paul was reportedly abducted on Wednesday alongside her twin sons at the Elewura area of Challenge, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Sources said the victims were travelling from their residence when armed men, who allegedly trailed their vehicle, intercepted them around 7:30am and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC described the abduction as disturbing, particularly at a time when residents were already anxious over unresolved kidnapping cases involving schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, as well as two members of staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in the Idi-Ayunre area of Oluyole Local Government Area.
The party warned that insecurity in the state was assuming an alarming dimension and urged authorities at all levels to urgently strengthen the security architecture to protect lives and property.
“We use this medium to appeal to the relevant authorities at the federal, state and local government levels to take a critical look at the security architecture of Oyo State with a view to tightening all loose ends and ensuring maximum protection of lives and property of citizens regardless of their background, economic or socio-political status,” the statement read.
The APC also demanded the immediate rescue of all victims currently in captivity, including the Oriire school abductees, the two CRIN workers, Mrs Busayo John-Paul and her children.
“We demand immediate rescue of all Oriire school abductees, two CRIN staff, Mrs Busayo John-Paul and her children, as well as others who are in captivity at the moment,” the party stated.
The opposition party further urged Governor Makinde and security agencies to intensify efforts to curb the rising spate of kidnappings and violent attacks across the state.
“No citizen deserves to live in perpetual fear and anxiety as it is the situation with residents of Oyo State at the moment. We call on Governor Makinde to seek help where necessary so that the situation does not degenerate further. As it stands, nobody is safe anywhere in the state and it has never been this bad,” the statement added.
The Imo State Police Command has arrested three students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), over the alleged killing of a 21-year-old undergraduate, Chinedu Chibuzor Christogonus, following accusations that he stole N13,500.
The victim, a 100-level Cyber Security student and member of the university’s Man O’ War organisation, reportedly died after he was allegedly assaulted by fellow members of the group.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement, saying preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was allegedly restrained and severely assaulted, resulting in fatal injuries.
According to the police, the suspects are Chukwuemeka Benedict, 21; Kelechi Gospel Ikenna, 24; and Obioma Anastasia, 21, all 500-level students of the institution.
Okoye said the victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, after the incident but was confirmed dead by medical personnel.
He said, “Preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased, a 100-level student of Cyber Security and a member of the Man O’ War organisation in FUTO, was allegedly subjected to severe assault by some members of the organisation following an accusation of theft involving the sum of N13,500.
“Initial findings indicate that the deceased was allegedly restrained and assaulted, resulting in critical injuries.
He was subsequently rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.”
The police spokesman disclosed that the arrests were made on the directive of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Audu Garba Bosso, shortly after the incident was reported.
He added that relevant evidence had been recovered, while the victim’s remains had been deposited in a morgue pending autopsy.
Okoye further stated that the commissioner had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Owerri for a comprehensive investigation.
Bosso, according to the statement, directed investigators to identify and question all persons linked to the incident, warning that anyone found culpable would face prosecution.
The police commissioner assured the deceased’s family, the university community and residents of a thorough and professional investigation, insisting that no suspect would be shielded regardless of status.
He urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue, reiterating the command’s commitment to ensuring justice for the deceased.
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