Since early April, number of IDPs in Ukraine up by 600,000 people to 17% of population – IOM
In the first 17 days of April, almost 600,000 people became internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine, bringing the total number of IDPs since the start of the war to over 7.7 million or 17% of the population, according to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), released on Tuesday.
The number of displaced people increased by 8% compared to April 1 and by 19% compared to March 16.
At the same time, as of April 17, some 4.9 million Ukrainians went abroad, and 1.3 million are actively discussing leaving their places of residence due to the war. Of the remaining 38%, they say that they see no obstacles to leaving, 9% say that it is dangerous to travel, 9% that they do not have money for this, 6% do not want to leave family members alone, and 1% cannot leave because of problems with health or disability.
Most internally displaced persons are from Kharkiv region (21%), Kyiv city (19%), Kyiv (18%), Donetsk (15%), and Luhansk (5%) regions. At the same time, as for macro-regions, the relative majority of migrants are from the east of the country (45%).
Dnipropetrovsk (11%), Kyiv (10%), Lviv (9%), Vinnytsia and Poltava (7%) regions received the most internal migrants. At the same time, as for macro-regions, the relative majority of migrants went to the west of the country (37%).
At the same time, 2.8 million Ukrainians who left their homes since the beginning of the war have already returned to their places of permanent residence, 31% of them – in the northern regions, 20% – in Kyiv, 15% – in the western regions, 12% each – in the eastern and southern regions, and 9% – in the central ones. Some 73% of returnees do not intend to leave their place of residence in the future.
A study conducted from April 11 to April 17 shows that at least 60% of the displaced population are women. Some 61% of displaced persons said that the war separated them from their loved ones.
Since the start of the war, more than half of the IDPs – mostly in eastern Ukraine – have reported shortages of some food items; 28% of families with children under five have problems providing their children with food, compared to 25% in the April 1 report. The most urgent needs of the displaced population include financial support, as well as medicines and medical services.
Some 15% of the displaced population plans to return to their homes within the next two weeks, mostly residents of Kyiv and the north of the country. At the same time, 8% of the population of Ukraine report that their houses have been damaged as a result of the war.
IOM has identified the cash aid program as one of the most effective ways to support people both in Ukraine and in other countries. Preparations are ongoing for the expansion of this program in close coordination with other UN agencies, the government of Ukraine and local authorities.
Since the beginning of the war, at least 150,000 people have received direct assistance from IOM in Ukraine, including food, non-food and hygiene items, funds, psychological and psychosocial support.