It is completely unclear how many people in Europe may seek protection.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin In view of the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there are growing concerns about a wave of refugees in Europe. If the Kremlin launches a major offensive, the number of refugees could reach the millions – within a very short time.
However, estimates of how many people could come to the EU from Ukraine vary widely. The Vice President of the EU Commission, Margaritis Schinas, recently named a range from 20,000 to more than one million refugees. US secret services even spoke of up to five million.
Poland, which shares a 500-kilometer border with Ukraine, would be directly affected. “We have to prepare for a wave of up to a million people,” said Poland’s Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wąsik recently.
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia are also likely to become escape destinations. There have already been talks between Member States and the Commission on humanitarian aid in Brussels. The United Nations speak of a “highly volatile” situation.
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The federal government is also currently preparing for the flow of refugees. “We are monitoring the situation very closely and are in close contact with the federal government, but also with the EU Commission,” a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior told the Handelsblatt. However, all scenarios primarily assumed refugee and expulsion movements within Ukraine.
Municipalities are demanding “revitalization” of the initial reception facilities
“In addition, neighboring states of Ukraine, but also states with a large Ukrainian diaspora, will probably be affected,” said the ministry spokeswoman. Poland would be an obvious target: 1.3 million Ukrainians already live there, mostly migrant workers.
Women in Ukraine practice on weapons.
(Photo: AP)
Germany pledged humanitarian support in the event of large numbers of people fleeing to neighboring countries. Requests for help are not yet available, the Interior Ministry said. Ukraine itself had contacted the EU member states last week and asked for comprehensive equipment assistance for national civil protection and disaster control. The ministry spokeswoman said the type and scope of German support is currently being examined.
>> Read also: Why a war in Ukraine could trigger Europe’s next refugee crisis
There are currently no concrete plans for the possible admission of Ukrainian refugees in Germany. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this also has to do with the fact that a “valid statement” on the number of possible people seeking protection is not possible. Irrespective of this, the ministry is in exchange with the federal states in order to get an overview of the reception capacities.
The municipalities, on the other hand, already see a need for action. “We expect close coordination between the federal, state and local authorities in order to have enough time for comprehensive preparation,” said the general manager of the association of cities and municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, the Handelsblatt. The necessary preparations included a “revitalization” of the initial reception facilities in the federal states and the provision of the necessary financial resources.
Landsberg expects that possible refugees will not only push their way to Poland, but also to other EU countries in the medium term. The capacities in the municipalities are not unlimited. “An EU-wide distribution key is therefore all the more important,” said Landsberg. “The repeatedly emphasized European solidarity must be honored here by all EU members.”
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