GENEVA — 

A recent report from the U.N. refugee agency cautions that a large number of Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced individuals are facing an uncertain future as the ongoing war with Russia enters its third year. The struggle for survival in Ukraine has the potential to turn into a prolonged crisis.

On Tuesday, Philippe Leclerc, the UNHCR’s regional director for Europe, expressed concern about the future of millions of displaced individuals in Ukraine after two years of intense conflict. The country has faced extensive destruction and continues to experience shelling and missile attacks, leaving the outlook for these individuals uncertain.

Leclerc, while addressing journalists in Geneva, shared his findings from a study conducted in Athens, Greece. The results showed that most of the participants expressed a desire to go back to their home country at some point. However, Leclerc mentioned that the number has decreased as more people are unsure about their future due to the ongoing war.

The UNHCR research was conducted through interviews in January and February with approximately 9,900 households of Ukrainian refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees both within and outside the country.

Leclerc stated that the main reason preventing the displaced individuals from returning, according to the survey, was the ongoing insecurity in Ukraine. Other factors mentioned were a shortage of economic prospects and housing.

This Saturday will be two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that over 10,000 civilians have died and 18,000 have been injured due to the war. Approximately 6.5 million Ukrainians have sought safety in other countries, while 3.7 million are still displaced within Ukraine.

According to Leclerc, the ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in dire humanitarian conditions for the country’s population. Approximately 40% of the population, which amounts to 14.6 million people, are in need of support for basic needs and protection. This week also marks the 10-year anniversary of the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Despite the ongoing war, Leclerc reported that 59% of Ukrainian refugees who were surveyed expressed fear of being forced to return home. This fear stems from challenges they face in host countries, particularly in regards to employment opportunities and legal status.

He stated that the research demonstrates how, despite the conflict, a significant number of refugees opt to go back to their homes due to the difficulties they encounter in foreign countries. This is mainly driven by the separation from their families and the grief over leaving behind numerous male relatives in Ukraine.

He stated that the report showed that reuniting with family was a major reason for refugees who have permanently returned home.

Dusan Vujasanin is in charge of the Central Tracing Agency Bureau for the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine under the International Committee of the Red Cross. He stated that his responsibility is to gather information on the fate and current location of individuals who have gone missing during this conflict.

He stated that the ICRC’s tracing bureau’s primary responsibility in this and other global conflicts is to gather and organize all data related to prisoners of war, civilian internees, and other individuals impacted, whether they are alive or deceased.

Currently, he stated, “There are currently 23,000 individuals who have been reported missing to the ICRC, and this figure continues to rise.”

Vujasanin stated that both Russia and Ukraine have fulfilled their duty outlined in the Geneva Conventions to establish national information bureaus.

He mentioned that both nations implemented the system two years ago and stated that while it may not be flawless, it is operational. “We regularly receive the list from both sides involved in the conflict.”

Vujasanin stated that the ICRC receives daily inquiries from individuals searching for their relatives. Within the past two years, they have been contacted over 100,000 times by various families. During this time, they have initiated 31,000 requests to locate missing persons.

So far, he has reported that the ICRC has successfully determined the fate of 8,000 out of the 31,000 individuals who were missing and has notified their families about what happened to them and where they are.

“Even just mentioning it now gives me chills, as I can guarantee that there are families and mothers who are receiving news about their children’s fate after two, three, or even eight months, discovering that they are still alive.”

However, he stated that the task remains incomplete as 23,000 families are still awaiting updates on the status of their beloved relatives.

He stated that the effect on families, due to the uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their loved ones, is a heavy burden for them to bear.

He stated that based on previous conflicts, we are aware that this task will require the ICRC to spend years comforting families and persisting in the search.

Source: voanews.com