"The war in Ukraine brings with it a protection crisis"

Since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, more than 3.8 million people have fled Ukraine. Especially women and children. Prostitution, kidnapping of minors… Many organizations today warn of the risks of human trafficking at borders. Decryption of the situation with Céline Schmitt, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in France.

L’Express: What are the challenges of the migration crisis linked to the war in Ukraine?

Celine Schmitt: First, its scale. There are other crises causing the forced displacement of populations around the world right now. In Afghanistan, for example, more than 3 million people are internally displaced and more than two million refugees have fled, including to neighboring countries. Syria is today the country experiencing the greatest exodus, with more than 7 million refugees.

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But the war in Ukraine has caused the fastest population displacement since the end of World War II. In four weeks, nearly 3.8 million people have fled the country and more than 6.5 million have moved inside. In total, more than 10 million people, more than a quarter of the population, have already left their homes.

Then, this migration crisis is characterized by the profiles of people fleeing the country: 90% of refugees are single women, mothers with children, or unaccompanied children. Fathers and husbands stayed in Ukraine [NDLR : pour combattre]. The United Nations estimates that 1.5 million children have left the territory.

Are you worried today for the protection and safety of these people?

Yes, clearly we are. Very quickly, we alerted the authorities and institutions at the international level on this subject. Firstly, because exile makes people more vulnerable who flee with very little and who arrive shocked. Unfortunately, experience then tells us that women are more exposed than men to the risk of sexual violence and exploitation on the roads to exile, especially when they travel alone.

Associations as well as the press have also already echoed several possible cases of abuse on the ground since the start of the crisis. The war in Ukraine brings with it a protection crisis.

How does the exploitation of human beings manifest itself on the roads of exile?

Forms of abuse can include violence, including sexual, forced labor, criminality. Another point of vigilance for us: the supervision of solidarity and voluntary initiatives. Not to reduce or discourage them – the outpouring of generosity is remarkable and we are very grateful -, but precisely to eliminate the risks of malicious behavior and put guarantees in place from the outset.

For example, it is very important that the national child protection systems are mobilized and that unaccompanied children are received as a priority by families who are already accredited, until their parents can be found – a job done especially in partnership with the Red Cross.

What should be done today to prevent these abuses?

Several things. The first may seem basic, but it is essential: you must first ensure that the people in question are well aware of these risks. Giving them information on their rights and obligations, and warning them of the potential dangers they may encounter, is in itself already a protection. We launched the “Stay Safe” campaign (“Stay safe” in French) for that in particular. Flyers, with advice – such as never giving out ID, not agreeing to be separated from family, beware of too-good-to-be-true deals on accommodation or work, etc. . – were distributed in Ukrainian, Russian and English.

It is then very important that the movement and reception of these populations be supervised by the competent authorities and associations of the countries of transit and exile. To support these national responses, we at UNHCR have strengthened our teams in the field. For example, we are setting up “blue points”: about fifty are being deployed in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, not far from the borders with Ukraine. The device, created for the Balkan route in 2016, is a safe place for single children and families, and must allow vulnerable people to access services (first aid, internet, orientation) in safe and well identifiable.

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The registration of people fleeing is also essential, especially to identify lone children. You should know that people coming from Ukraine do not need a visa to enter the European Union and have ninety days of freedom of movement. While many of them already know where they are going – they are looking to join close friends or family, and that’s good – and will only register with the competent authorities in the coming weeks, other can disappear from the radar. They are thus more vulnerable to malicious attention.