As the military of Russia advances into Ukraine, for many Ukrainians seeking refuge from the war, time is running out. The crisis has turned humanitarian in nature, with thousands of ordinary citizens being called to flee their homes as violence escalates. Thousands of refugees are coming daily to the countries neighboring Ukraine, most especially Poland, Romania, and Hungary, in a way that is straining resources and infrastructure.
This becomes all the more urgent out of fear of being enveloped in a war zone or being cut off from the paths of retreat by Russian forces, who are currently closing off key towns and areas. Contacts from the ground paint awful pictures of families, the elderly, and children who make painful journeys every day with almost nothing but what they could carry on their backs.
International organizations and governments are organizing to offer all possible assistance and support, yet challenging situations remain for ensuring safe passage and adequate shelter for all those fleeing. Humanitarian corridors have been negotiated, but only sporadically; hostilities would merely stop for a few hours at a time, which permitted limited evacuations.
In such a case, global response becomes very important, underscoring the importance of urgent, continuing humanitarian assistance. As this conflict deepens, the plight of refugees from Ukraine shows how imperative international solidarity and support are in mitigating the growing humanitarian catastrophe.