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How many refugees have fled Ukraine and where are they going? How many refugees have fled Ukraine and where are they going?
(2 days later)
The UK is launching a new visa scheme to help people host Ukrainian refugees in their homes. More than three million people have now fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations (UN).
Almost three million people have now fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations (UN). Most have gone to neighbouring EU countries.
The UK has launched a new scheme to help people host Ukrainian refugees in their homes.
How has the UK said it will help Ukrainian refugees?How has the UK said it will help Ukrainian refugees?
Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which is being launched today, people in the UK will be able to nominate an individual or family to stay with them rent-free, or in another property, for at least six months. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, people in the UK will be able to nominate an individual or family to stay with them rent-free, or in another property, for at least six months.
How to sponsor Ukrainian refugees in UK homes For up to three years, refugees who come via the scheme will be able to live and work in the UK and access healthcare, welfare and schools.
For up to three years they will be able to live and work in the UK and access healthcare, welfare and schools.
Applications will be made online, and both hosts and refugees will be vetted. Hosts will receive £350 a month and there will be no cap on the numbers able to come to the UK.Applications will be made online, and both hosts and refugees will be vetted. Hosts will receive £350 a month and there will be no cap on the numbers able to come to the UK.
The UK government has faced criticism over the speed and scale of its response to the refugee crisis. Until now, people with family in the UK have been allowed to apply for visas - at the weekend, ministers said more than 3,000 had been issued. More than 100,000 people signed up to provide accommodation within the first day.
Which countries are Ukraine's refugees fleeing to? The UK government has faced criticism over the speed and scale of its response to the refugee crisis. Initially only people with family in the UK were able to apply to come to the UK. As of 16 March, 6,100 visas had been issued.
Heartless or doing its best to help refugees? UK in crisis mode
Which countries are Ukraine's refugees going to?
Refugees are crossing to neighbouring countries to the west, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.Refugees are crossing to neighbouring countries to the west, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.
The UN says that as of 14 March: The UN says that as of 16 March:
Poland had taken in 1,808,436 refugees (on 15 March) Poland had taken in 1,916,445 refugees
Hungary 263,888 Romania 491,409
Slovakia 213,000 Moldova 350,886
Moldova 337,215 Hungary 282,611
Romania 453,432 Slovakia 228,844
Russia 142,994 Russia 168,858
Belarus 1,475 Belarus 2,127
Some people have travelled from Moldova into Romania and so are included in both countries' totals, the UN says.Some people have travelled from Moldova into Romania and so are included in both countries' totals, the UN says.
How are refugees leaving Ukraine?How are refugees leaving Ukraine?
Trains heading towards Ukraine's border have been packed, and there have been long queues of traffic on roads leading out of the country.Trains heading towards Ukraine's border have been packed, and there have been long queues of traffic on roads leading out of the country.
Some people have walked for days to reach the borders, such as this Indian man who was studying in UkraineSome people have walked for days to reach the borders, such as this Indian man who was studying in Ukraine
UN spokeswoman Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams told the BBC it was mostly women and children making the crossing into Poland, with some facing waits of 24 hours. In some cases children were travelling with distant relatives or family members who returned to Ukraine after dropping them off, she said.UN spokeswoman Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams told the BBC it was mostly women and children making the crossing into Poland, with some facing waits of 24 hours. In some cases children were travelling with distant relatives or family members who returned to Ukraine after dropping them off, she said.
Refugees are told they do not need documents, but should preferably have their internal or foreign passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical documentation.Refugees are told they do not need documents, but should preferably have their internal or foreign passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical documentation.
To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.
There have been reports of people from African countries being prevented from leaving Ukraine.There have been reports of people from African countries being prevented from leaving Ukraine.
'They said if you're black, you should walk''They said if you're black, you should walk'
What help are countries offering refugees?What help are countries offering refugees?
In countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care, and information about onward travel.In countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care, and information about onward travel.
The EU has granted Ukrainians who flee the war a blanket right to stay and work throughout the 27 nations for up to three years.The EU has granted Ukrainians who flee the war a blanket right to stay and work throughout the 27 nations for up to three years.
They also receive social welfare and access to housing, medical treatment and schooling for children.They also receive social welfare and access to housing, medical treatment and schooling for children.
Poland feels the strain of Ukraine's refugeesPoland feels the strain of Ukraine's refugees
With placards and tears, Poles greet refugees like familyWith placards and tears, Poles greet refugees like family
Reception centres have been set up in Poland like this one at Poznan UniversityReception centres have been set up in Poland like this one at Poznan University
The government of Poland, which has received the highest number of refugees, has said it will need more money than the EU is currently offering in order to host the number of people arriving there.The government of Poland, which has received the highest number of refugees, has said it will need more money than the EU is currently offering in order to host the number of people arriving there.
Moldova, which has by far the largest concentration of refugees per capita, has also appealed for international help in dealing with the numbers arriving.Moldova, which has by far the largest concentration of refugees per capita, has also appealed for international help in dealing with the numbers arriving.
Hundreds of refugees are living in this athletics centre in MoldovaHundreds of refugees are living in this athletics centre in Moldova
How many Ukrainians are internally displaced?How many Ukrainians are internally displaced?
There are an estimated 1.85 million internally displaced people inside Ukraine, the UN says. The UN estimates that there are around 1.85 million internally displaced people inside Ukraine.
This includes 200,000 in the western city of Lviv - the mayor there has said it has reached the limit of its capacity to help refugees.This includes 200,000 in the western city of Lviv - the mayor there has said it has reached the limit of its capacity to help refugees.
The UN's High Commission for Refugees estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need assistance.The UN's High Commission for Refugees estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need assistance.
It says people in southern Ukraine desperately need assistance like bedding, medication and heating - and that food, water and shelter are desperately needed in the east.It says people in southern Ukraine desperately need assistance like bedding, medication and heating - and that food, water and shelter are desperately needed in the east.
The safe Ukrainian city sheltering thousandsThe safe Ukrainian city sheltering thousands
The UN says it is offering humanitarian assistance inside Ukraine "wherever necessary and possible". This includes:The UN says it is offering humanitarian assistance inside Ukraine "wherever necessary and possible". This includes:
delivering supplies from west to east, including food and tarpaulins for homes damaged by shellingdelivering supplies from west to east, including food and tarpaulins for homes damaged by shelling
providing folding beds to people in bomb sheltersproviding folding beds to people in bomb shelters
setting up reception and transit points for internally-displaced peoplesetting up reception and transit points for internally-displaced people
The EU believes the total number of refugees could climb to seven million.The EU believes the total number of refugees could climb to seven million.