A veritable migration of peoples is moving through Lemberg, a city of 700,000 in western Ukraine, towards Poland. People fleeing death and destruction whose homes have been bombed.
Most of them are women and children, because the men have to stay in Ukraine to fight against the Russian invaders. Many refugees have already spent days in bunkers or metro stations.
They couldn’t take much with them: money, passport, medication, some clothes. Sometimes not even that: some had to flee so quickly that they were only wearing slippers on their feet.
What the future brings? Uncertain. Many do not know in the morning where they will sleep in the evening.
According to “Spiegel”, the International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 225,000 war refugees from Ukraine could seek protection in Germany. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported on Thursday that 1.2 million people had been displaced from Ukraine in Europe.
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/abschied-von-papa-der-in-den-krieg-zug-oleg-r-reichen-soehnchen-maksim-ueber-den- fence-to-his-wife-09801377-79362820/image/3.image.jpg”/> Farewell to dad who is going to war: Oleg R. hands his son Maksim over the fence to his wife Yana in Irpin, UkrainePhoto: EPA
The migration researcher Gerald Knaus (52) even expects that ten million Ukrainians will be on the run. Europe is “facing the fastest and biggest refugee catastrophe since the Second World War,” Knaus told RND.
The European Union is counting on the majority of Ukrainians to distribute themselves to the countries where they have contacts. Knaus: “In addition, there will be many people who will have to be helped to arrive.”
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/alle-wollen-weg-fluechtlinge-draengen-sich-an-einer-evacuation-train-from-the-capital-to-lemberg-d47f84c949894409b9c00bc87f324ba2- 79362824/image/3.image.jpg”/> Everyone wants to leave: Refugees crowd an evacuation train from the capital to LembergPhoto: GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS
” data-zoom-src = “https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/eine-junge-frau-ist-total-auflost-und-wept-unrestrained-sie-hat-fuer-sich-und-ihr- kind-no-space-98df3c0ac0674082b06a2513e496dd4d-79362836/image/3.image.jpg”/> A young woman is totally upset and cries uncontrollably. She was not given a place on an evacuation train from Kyiv for herself and her child. The fear of further Russian attacks makes them despairPhoto: ddp/abaca press