Attachments
UKRAINE SITUATION
The war in Ukraine triggered a major increase in humanitarian needs due to mass internal displacement and refugee outflows. As of 11 July 2023, 5,976,100 refugees from Ukraine were recorded across Europe, with 5,093,200 registered for Asylum, Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes. Within Ukraine, 5.1 million people were internally displaced as of end of May.⁷
In April 2023, UNHCR published its Regional Protection Analysis Report #2, based on interviews with over 17,700 refugees in countries neighboring Ukraine, including Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The report highlighted several challenges faced by refugees regarding access to rights in host countries.
Among others, approximately 25 per cent of refugees surveyed reported difficulties in accessing healthcare in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The main barriers to healthcare remained similar to those identified in UNHCR’s previous research paper; ‘The Implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive – Six Months On’. Challenges included long wait times due to lack of capacity within the health system, language barriers and high costs.
ARRIVALS IN EUROPE VIA THE MEDITERRANEAN AND NORTHWEST AFRICAN MARITIME ROUTES
Between January and May 2023, some 66,500 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean and Northwest African maritime routes, a 74 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. In May, arrivals decreased by 37 per cent compared to previous month, and 10 per cent decrease compared to May 2022.
Total arrivals in Italy decreased by 44 per cent in May, compared to the previous month, and by six per cent compared to May 2022. Of the 8,200 refugees and migrants who arrived in Italy in May, 72 per cent departed from Libya, and 18 per cent departed from Tunisia. UNHCR also noted 800 arrivals from Türkiye in May.
Overall arrivals from Tunisia from January to May 2023 increased six-fold, and arrivals from Libya doubled compared to the same period last year. Majority of arrivals from Tunisia originated from Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Tunisia, whereas majority of arrivals from Libya originated from Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In Spain, 1,800 refugees and migrants arrived during May, a 29 per cent decrease compared to the previous month. In May, 68 per cent of arrivals in Spain arrived at the Canary Islands. Arrivals in May decreased by 13 per cent along the Northwest African maritime route, and by 44 per cent along the Western Mediterranean route compared to the previous month.
In Greece, 1,200 refugees and migrants arrived by both land and sea in May, a 26 per cent increase compared to the previous month and an 18 per cent increase compared to May 2022. Turkish authorities reported rescuing or intercepting 3,161 refugees and migrants at sea in May, a 13 per cent increase compared to previous month. Further, 514 refugees and migrants arrived in Cyprus by sea in May, resulting in a 35 per cent increase compared to the previous month.