AP Interview: Refugee Heads See Lessons from Ukraine Crisis

GENEVA (AP) — Europe's acceptance of millions of Ukrainians fleeing Russian showed that it is acceptable. The head of the UN refugee agency said the approach needed to be replicated to accommodate people fleeing other countries.

In an interview with The Associated Press, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi described the European Union's response as "exemplary" and said that nearly four million Ukrainians, mostly women and children, registered for temporary protection of the block. System since the start of the war almost half a year ago.

This contrasts with his recent EU efforts to prevent migrants from Africa and the Middle East from reaching Europe's shores. Some European leaders have sought to distinguish between the plight of Ukrainians and that of other refugees — a distinction that Grundy denounced as "racist." is possible for so many people, and it has proven so effective, that some of these approaches could be used by others who are coming knocking on Europe's door. Why don't you use it for yours too?" asked Grundy.

The EU's emergency protection system was created decades ago, but he launched for the first time this year after more than six million Ukrainians fled in just a few months. . Refugees the continent has seen since World War II. This will allow Ukrainians to move within the bloc, give them the right to work, and facilitate access to housing, education and health care.

It allegedly helped Europe avoid setting up refugee camps to house Ukrainians.

After the 2015-2016 refugee crisis, when more than one million of her people, mostly from Syria, arrived in Europe by land or sea, the leader put a fence inside his EU. to prevent many from going deeper. Continent. Brock has also spent billions of dollars to prevent people from reaching shore, including those fleeing poverty as well as persecution and conflict, before the departure of migrants to countries such as Turkey, Libya and Morocco. provided funding to stop

According to the European Border and Coast Guard, the number of illegal immigrants into Europe has fallen from a peak in 2015 to under 200,000 by 2021, but will rise again this year. is doing. Such border crossings often get a lot of attention, but more than 80% of the world's refugees are hosted in developing countries, according to UNHCR.

"European government leaders spent hours and days negotiating where to take 100 sailors in the Mediterranean Sea," he said. Mr Grandi says European leaders agree on how to resettle those who have arrived in Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain in recent years. "And on the contrary, millions of [Ukrainians] have accepted, accepted and granted access to services in a very effective way." Grandi said he does not believe European government policies are per se racist.

But he added: it's racist. Full stop. ''

Grundy did not specify the statement he was referring to, but Greek Immigration Minister Notis Mitarati said to refer to Ukrainians fleeing the war: He was criticized by human rights groups and opposition lawmakers when he used the phrase earlier this year.

Other European politicians have made similar statements. Some argue that because many people seeking asylum are seeking a better life than fleeing war, they may not be entitled to protection under international law.Help fellow Europeans Some advocate a different treatment, saying that there should be a duty but not the responsibility of hosting refugees from other continents.

Some of those heading there admitted to being economic migrants. But he stressed that there is an effective system for evaluating asylum applications.

About half of Ukrainians who have left the country so far have returned, and many more may eventually return, Grandi said. Some are said to have escaped a second time.

Still, with no end in sight for the war, the United Nations refugee agency said the total number of Ukrainians who had left their homeland at one point in time could exceed eight million by December. says. And according to the International Organization for Migration, 6.6 million Ukrainians are currently displaced from their homes in the country.

About two million Ukrainians ended up in Russia, whether they chose to or not. An AP investigation earlier this year revealed that many were forced to head there and suffered human rights violations along the way. Of the 1,500 accommodation facilities for Ukrainians in the country, UNHCR teams have so far been able to visit only nine.

in Ukraine While the war has grabbed the world's attention and thereby garnered support for the displaced, Grundy has told world leaders about the 12 other humanitarian projects his agencies are struggling to fund. I begged you to remember the crisis. He particularly focused on the Horn of Africa, where lingering droughts and prolonged conflicts have not only forced millions of people to flee their homes, but have also driven countries into ever-more famine.

"The big problem we have at the moment is that people tend to underestimate all the other crises they suffer," Grandi said.

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