Weekly Update #80
September 11

Covers those granted refugee status, temporary asylum status, temporary protection, or statuses through similar national protection schemes, as well as those recorded in the country under other forms of stay

Refugees from Ukraine recorded beyond Europe

369,200

Last updated August 19 2023

Refugees from Ukraine recorded globally

6,201,600

Last updated September 6 2023

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities

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Ukrainian refugees: how many are there, their intentions & return prospects

Report by Center for Economic Strategy

Summary

5.6 - 6.7 million Ukrainians are abroad
Primarily women and children, but the proportion of men is increasing
The incomes of Ukrainian refugees are recovering but remain lower than before the war.
Ukrainian refugees are diverse: we have identified 4 groups classic refugees, quasi labor migrants, professionals, and people from conflict zones
Most countries have reduced benefits, except Germany
33% of refugees are employed, and this percentage is increasing
Most Ukrainian refugees are satisfied with life abroad, but they prefer life in Ukraine
63% of refugees definitely or rather to plan to return, but this percentage is decreasing
Students and those who have financially benefited from migration are less willing to return.
1.3 to 3.3 million Ukrainians will not return
The Ukrainian economy will lose between 2.7% to 6.9% of its GDP annually due to Ukrainian refugees not returning

HOW MANY UKRAINIAN REFUGEES ARE THERE NOW?

As of the end of June 2023, 5.6 to 6.7 million Ukrainians remained abroad.
Approximately 1.3 million of them were in Russia and Belarus, while 4.3 to 5.4 million were in other countries.
Germany ranked first in the number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU, with 1.1 million people, and Poland came in second with 976 thousand.

WHO ARE THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES ABROAD?

Many refugees are children(between 25 and 51% of all refugees according to different sources).
Most of adult refugees are women, especially middle aged (35 64).
However, the proportion of adult men has increased the most.
Ukrainian refugees have lost a significant amount of income since the beginning of the full scale invasion; however, their incomes are gradually recovering.
Most of Ukrainian refugees (63%) have a higher education.
The largest share of the population left from the Zaporizhzhia (23%), Kyiv (19%), Dnipropetrovsk (18%), Mykolaiv (16%), and Kherson (19%) regions.
4 main groups of refugees:
- - Classic refugees (25%) women with children in Poland and the Czech Republic.
  - "Quasi labor migrants" (29%) people who left not only for security reasons.
  - Professionals (29%) individuals more inclined to work in their field of expertise.
  - People from conflict zones (16%) those who suffered the most from the war.

WHAT ASSISTANCE DO UKRAINIANS RECEIVE IN DIFFERENT EU COUNTRIES?

Many countries have reduced benefits, but Germany is an exception.
Currently, in Poland, 56% of refugees receive benefits, while in Germany, it's 74%.
Ireland and Switzerland have introduced payments for returning to Ukraine.
In Poland, the percentage of people who do not have enough for covering their basic needs has increased, while in Germany, it has decreased.

ADAPTATION OF UKRAINIANS TO THE EU LABOR MARKET

Ukrainian refugees have a significantly higher level of education than other refugees.
In all countries, the percentage of Ukrainians who are employed has increased.
Only 29% had not planned any steps for further qualification.
In Germany, a large percentage are engaged in education, which contributes to integration.
Among those who are employed, 34% are working in their field of expertise.
The majority (67%) of Ukrainian refugees are satisfied with their life abroad. However, they prefer life in Ukraine more.
40% of Ukrainian refugees would like their children to continue their education abroad after the war.
19% say that the attitude of locals towards them has worsened.
- Especially in the Czech Republic (22%) and Poland (24%).

WILL UKRAINIAN REFUGEES RETURN?

41% of Ukrainians definitely plan to return, 22% rather plan
The share of those who plan to return has decreased slightly
24% have postponed their return
Among children, only 38% definitely want to return, 17% rather plan to do so, and children aged 14 17 are the least willing to return.
58% of those who plan to return intend to do so only after the war
Safety factors and the ability to find a good job are the most important factors contributing to the return

Source: Center for Economic Strategy

STATUS OF THE CONFLICT

Continuing conflict

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian troops had advanced in their three-month-old counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces in the east and south. “Over the past seven days, we have made an advance in the Tavria [southern] sector,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. “There is movement in the Bakhmut sector. Yes, there is movement.” The Ukrainian president said the country’s forces were also holding their ground on other fronts in the east.

Russia launched 33 drones at Kyiv with debris falling across several districts of the capital during the two-hour-long raid. Officials in Kyiv said 26 of the weapons were destroyed and there was no serious damage. Four people were injured.

On the southern front lines in Ukraine, the United Nations atomic watchdog warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety from a spike in fighting near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said its experts at the facility reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week but that there was no damage to the plant.

Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Head Kyrylo Budanov stated on September 10 that Ukrainian forces will continue counteroffensive operations into late 2023. Cold and wet weather will affect but not halt active combat, as it has done in the first 18 months of the war. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley stated on September 10 that Ukrainian forces probably have 30 to 45 days of “fighting weather” left. Seasonal heavy rains and heavy mud in late autumn will slow ground movements for both sides, and low temperatures impose a variety of logistics challenges. The start of such seasonal weather is variable, however. While weather considerations will affect Ukrainian counteroffensive operations, they will not impose a definite end to them. A hard freeze occurs throughout Ukraine in the winter that makes the ground more conducive to mechanized maneuver warfare, and Ukrainian officials expressed routine interest in exploiting these weather conditions in winter 2022–2023.

Sources: Al Jazeera

ISW (September 10)

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Total civilian casualties 24 February 2022 to 18 August 2023:

From 24 February 2022, which marked the start of the large-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation, to 27 August 2023, OHCHR recorded 26,717 civilian casualties in the country:

9,511 killed and 17,206 injured.

This included:

21,603 casualties (7,396 killed and 14,207 injured) in territory controlled by the Government when casualties occurred:

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 10,403 casualties (4,220 killed and 6,183 injured); and

In other regions: 11,200 casualties (3,176 killed and 8,024 injured).

5,114 casualties (2,115 killed and 2,999 injured) in territory occupied by the Russian Federation when casualties occurred:

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 3,494 casualties (780 killed and 2,714 injured); and

In other regions: 1,620 casualties (1,335 killed and 285 injured).

Civilian casualties from 1 to 27 August 2023

From 1 to 27 August 2023, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 585 civilian casualties in Ukraine:

108 killed (65 men, 34 women, 3 girls, 2 boys, as well as 4 adults whose sex is not yet known), and
477 injured (196 men, 148 women, 9 boys, 7 girls, as well as 3 children and 114 adults whose sex is not yet known).

Source: United Nations

THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Humanitarian Situation Overview

The war in Ukraine has continued to escalate throughout 2023, with relentless strikes and ground fighting destroying lives, livelihoods and part of the country’s civilian infrastructure to generate rising humanitarian needs. Although attacks on energy infrastructure that had driven needs during the winter months decreased towards February, homes, schools, water systems and hospitals continued to be attacked in the following months. From March to June, fighting intensified in front-line communities of Donetska Oblast, making humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult to provide in an area where needs are acute. In the south, attacks on port and grain infrastructure since the termination of the Black Sea Initiative in July created additional challenges for agricultural exports from Ukraine. This further impacted farmers already struggling due to the heavy land mine contamination, particularly concerning in Ukraine’s breadbasket regions, including Kharkivska, Khersonska and Mykolaivska oblasts.

Intensified hostilities in Kharkivska, Zaporizka and Sumska oblasts in recent months forced thousands from their homes, in a country where over 5.1 million people are currently internally displaced. In Kharkivska Oblast, hundreds of people fled Kupianskyi Raion in August alone. Attacks have also increased in areas further from the front line during the same period, causing damages to homes, schools, and hospitals and impacting parts of the country where millions of people have sought safety and refuge after being uprooted from front-line communities.

Massive destruction has further impacted essential services already decimated by the war, including access to education, health services and water. The impact on children by the damage to schools, displacement and traumatic experiences negatively affect their well-being and education. According to the Government, only 30 per cent of the 3 million school-aged children in Ukraine are in full-time face-to-face learning, while nearly 40 per cent can only attend education online and another 30 per cent a hybrid in-person and online schooling. Although attacks impacting hospitals have slightly decreased in 2023, access to health services remains extremely challenging in areas close to the front line, where less than half of the facilities remain operational. The Kakhovka Dam destruction in June also led to a deteriorated situation in most of southern Ukraine, particularly Khersonska Oblast, disrupting access to water for hundreds of thousands of people and impacting agriculture.

Over 100 security incidents, exacerbated by impediments imposed on aid workers, have hampered aid operations in 2023, particularly in areas under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation. Attacks impacting distribution points have steadily increased throughout the year, forcing a temporary suspension of aid on many occasions. In 2023, at least 6 aid workers were killed and 16 injured in the line of duty in Ukraine, compared to 4 killed in the whole of 2022.

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In July, aid organizations have rapidly mobilized support to people impacted by waves of attacks and intensified hostilities, while continuing regular operations to reach millions impacted by the war. By the end of the month, humanitarians had provided critical aid to 7.9 million people across Ukraine, approximately 600,000 more than the number reported in June.

Over 60 per cent of people reached are women and girls, and nearly 20 per cent are children. The total includes 5.6 million people reached with health services, food and livelihood support to 4 million people and around 3.3 million people assisted with access to drinking water and hygiene products. Humanitarian partners have also provided emergency repair materials or critical household items to 1.7 million people uprooted by the war or those whose houses have been destroyed. Multipurpose cash assistance has been provided to 2.9 million people, up from 2.5 million in June, while education services reached close to 1.1 million children and teachers Protection services such as counselling, legal services and mine-awareness campaigns have reached 1.1 million people, including over 300,000 who have been part of activities to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.

Some 415 humanitarian organizations are now implementing life-saving activities across all of Ukraine, an increase from 372 in June. Nearly 270 partners are Ukrainian national NGOs. Just above 100 humanitarian organizations were operational in Ukraine, mainly in Donetska and Luhanska oblasts, before the escalation of the war in February 2022.

Increased insecurity and funding shortages, however, have hampered humanitarians’ ability to reach more

people in need. In July, a number of security incidents impacted humanitarian activities in southern Ukraine, including at

least three attacks hitting distribution points, which forced aid organizations to temporarily suspend life-saving activities.

Since the beginning of the year, at least five aid workers have been killed in the line of duty in Ukraine. Impediments and

interferences continued to impact assistance in areas under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation, where

aid has been extremely limited and not at the required scale. In addition, funding remained low and by the end of July,

humanitarians had received just above 30 per cent of the US$3.9 billion requested in the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan

The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) continued to be an important source of funding for relief operations in the country, but it is running out of funding. By the end of July 2023, the UHF had received only $78 million in paid donor contributions, a reduction of $124 million (61 per cent) over the same seven-month period in 2022, during which the Fund received $202 million. Without additional donor contributions, the UHF will not be able to ensure funding to the most prioritized humanitarian activities during the coming months.

Since the start of 2023, the UHF has allocated over $170 million to support prioritized humanitarian response. In January, the Fund launched a Reserve Allocation of $50 million to jump-start high-ticket interventions in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine facing the greatest severity of humanitarian needs. Another $67 million was allocated through a Standard Allocation launched in March to support integrated multi-sectoral assistance prioritized under the 2023 HRP in rural areas close to the frontlines and return areas of the north. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in early June, the Fund supported the rapid partner response in the affected area through cost extensions totalling $3.4 million and flexible re-programming of ongoing projects. In August, a $55 million Reserve Allocation was launched to boost time-critical winter response, including shelter/NFI assistance and support to district heating systems and agricultural livelihoods.

Source: OCHA Ukraine Humanitarian Response 2023: Situation Report, 5 September 2023

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

General Audience - September 6

Il mio pensiero va infine ai giovani, ai malati, agli anziani e agli sposi novelli. La Festa liturgica di dopodomani, Natività della Beata Vergine Maria, vi esorti a camminare sempre, come Maria, sulle strade del Signore. A Lei, donna della tenerezza, affidiamo le sofferenze e le tribolazioni della cara e martoriata Ucraina che soffre tanto. A tutti voi la mia benedizione.

Links to the full text in ITALIAN

Angelus - September 10, 2023 (Sunday)

Today in Markowa, Poland, the martyrs Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, with their seven children, were beatified: an entire family exterminated by the Nazis on 24 March 1944 for having given shelter to some persecuted Jews. They opposed the hatred and violence that characterized that time with evangelical love. May this Polish family, which represents a ray of light in the darkness of the Second World War, be for all of us a model to imitate in the zeal for goodness and service to those in need. A round of applause for this family of Blesseds!

And following their example, let us hear the call to oppose the force of weapons with that of charity, the rhetoric of violence with the tenacity of prayer. Let us do so above all for the many countries that are suffering due to war; in a special way, let us intensify our prayer for beleaguered Ukraine. There are the flags, there, of Ukraine, which is suffering so, so much!

Oggi a Markowa, in Polonia, sono stati beatificati i martiri Giuseppe e Vittoria Ulma con i loro 7 figli, bambini: un’intera famiglia sterminata dai nazisti il 24 marzo 1944 per aver dato rifugio ad alcuni ebrei che erano perseguitati. All’odio e alla violenza, che caratterizzarono quel tempo, essi opposero l’amore evangelico. Questa famiglia polacca, che rappresentò un raggio di luce nell’oscurità della seconda guerra mondiale, sia per tutti noi un modello da imitare nello slancio del bene e nel servizio di chi è nel bisogno. Un applauso a questa famiglia di Beati!

E sul loro esempio, sentiamoci chiamati a opporre alla forza delle armi quella della carità, alla retorica della violenza la tenacia della preghiera. Facciamolo soprattutto per tanti Paesi che soffrono a causa della guerra; in modo speciale, intensifichiamo la preghiera per la martoriata Ucraina. Ci sono le bandiere, lì, dell’Ucraina, che sta soffrendo tanto, tanto!

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