UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on Tuesday said nearly eight million people had fled Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion almost a year ago.

Mr Griffiths said almost eight million people fled to neighbouring countries, while another 5.3 million were internally displaced.

According to the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 17.6 million people, or almost 40 per cent of Ukraine’s population, need humanitarian assistance.

Mr Griffiths said he intended to present this year’s humanitarian response plan for Ukraine, which requires some $3.9 billion in Geneva later this month.

“This violence shows no sign of abating,” he said.

According to UN official figures, more than 7,000 civilians have been killed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

“The actual toll is certainly higher,” Mr Griffiths said.

According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, Russia’s war with Ukraine has led to the largest refugee movement since World War II. 

(dpa/NAN)