UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi confirmed "there has been a different treatment" by Ukrainian security forces and border officials, after a number of Black, south Asian and Mediterranean refugees shared accounts of being blocked at borders while trying to make crossings, which were initially dismissed as "Russian disinformation" on social media, Europe News reported.
“You have seen reports in the media that there are different treatments – with Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians. Now our observations, and we possibly cannot observe every single post yet – but our observations is that these are not state policies – but there are instances which it has happened,” he stated.
“There should be absolutely no discrimination between Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians, Europeans and non-Europeans. Everyone is fleeing from the same risks,” he continued.
Grandi added that the UN plans to intervene to try to ensure that everybody fleeing the conflict in Ukraine receives equal treatment when trying to enter neighboring countries.
Prior to this, Christine Pirovolakis, the senior external relations officer at the UK branch of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the world body "is aware of reports of individuals facing challenges entering Poland from Ukraine and is following up on them."
“We advocate for access to safety for all, regardless of their legal status, nationality and race as well as access to asylum for those who want to seek asylum,” Pirovolakis added.
This comes as Black people living in the region have announced they have been denied assistance during the worsening crisis with some taking to social media in recent days to share their experiences. Photos and videos showed African and Caribbean students and families being pushed away from boarding buses and trains heading out of Ukraine.
The treatment of many non-European refugees has received global condemnation from organizations, government officials, and public figures.
The African Union (AU) has announced it is “disturbed” by reports that African nationals in Ukraine are being prevented from safely crossing the border to flee the raging conflict in the country.
The pan-African body said in a statement that, “[All people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and as such, should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity.”
“Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach international law,” the statement added.
The Nigerian government has also expressed concern over reports of discriminatory behavior by Ukrainian and Polish border guards against its nationals.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military offensive against Ukraine. Russian forces have been advancing towards Kiev and seizing control of a number of towns and cities along the way. Authorities in Moscow have denied claims made by Ukrainian and Western officials of civilian areas being targeted by the Russian military.
The situation in Ukraine could become “Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century” with tens of thousands of refugees believed to have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries so far, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced.
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