Fleeing Ukraine
Breaking News
March 3, 2022. The United Nations said that a million Ukrainians had become refugees in the week since Russia launched its invasion, one of the largest exoduses in recent times. Many more have left their homes and are seeking safety in the western reaches of Ukraine or taking shelter underground.
Critical Analysis
According to the data from the tweet from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the map above, as of March 2, 2022 how many Ukrainian refugees had fled their country?
According to the data from the map above, as of March 2, what country had received the most Ukrainian refugees?
Why are so many people fleeing Ukraine?
Belarus shares a long border and is linked to Ukraine by major highways, but it has received less than 500 Ukrainian refugees. Why do you think so few Ukrainians are fleeing to Belarus?
Over a million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began last week, according to the United Nations refugee agency. About half of them crossed Ukraine’s western border to Poland. Others have gone to Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. How do you think the flight of so many Ukrainian refugees will impact the rest of Europe?
Imagine that there was an arrow on the map above that pointed to the United States. How do you think the war in Ukraine and the flight of so many Ukrainian refugees will impact the United States?
Describe some specific powers the U.S. government can use to deal with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugee crisis?
According to the World Bank, Ukraine has a per capita income of 3,726.93 USD (2020). The United States has a per capita income of 63,543.58 USD (2020). And Russia has a per capita income of 10,126.72 USD (2020). You can find all of this and more information in the chart below*. How do you think economics impacts the Ukrainian refugee crisis?
Ukraine enacted martial law at the beginning of the conflict that requires men ages 18 to 60 to remain in the country. This Daily podcast episode focuses on three young men and the decision they made about staying to fight or fleeing Ukraine. (Warning: this episode contains some bad language.) Imagine you were Ukrainian, what would you have done when Russia invaded?
Last year, amid scenes of frantic Afghans clinging to airplanes to try to escape the Taliban, some European leaders said this week that they would work to prevent migrants and refugees from journeying to the continent without permission. In November, hundreds of Iraqi refugees at the Belarusian border with Poland were denied entry, leaving many refugees dead, and forcing the rest to return home to Iraq. In the 2010s when Syrians tried to enter Europe to escape their brutal civil war, Europe in 2016 closed their borders to Syrian refugees, placing them in Greek refugee camps. The current Ukrainian refugee crisis is the most intense week of human flight within Europe’s borders since at least the Balkan wars of the 1990s. But in contrast to previous crises in Europe over the past decade, these refugees are being welcomed. Why do you think Europe, which has closed its borders to many recent waves of refugees, is welcoming Ukrainians?
Learning Extension
According to The International Rescue Committee over 5 million Ukrainians could become refugees. Learn more. And listen to this Daily podcast episode that focuses on three young men and the decision they made about staying to fight or fleeing Ukraine. (Warning: this episode contains some bad language.
Action Extension
Families affected by the Ukraine crisis are being processed by American military personnel in Poland. The International Rescue Committee is on the ground in Poland and preparing to support displaced families. Learn what you and your class can do to help.
