More than five million people have now fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24, the United Nations’ refugee agency said.
The Geneva-based UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday put the total number of refugees at 5.01 million. More than half of the total, over 2.8 million, fled at least at first to Poland.
Although many have stayed there, an unknown number have travelled onward. There are few border checks within the European Union.
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The UNHCR said on March 30 that four million people had fled Ukraine. The exodus was somewhat slower in recent weeks than at the beginning of the war.
In addition to the refugees, the UN says that more than seven million people have been displaced within Ukraine, which had a pre-war population of 44 million.
According to the latest UK government data, the Homes for Ukraine scheme has received 94,700 applications. Some 56,500 visas have been issued, while just 16,400 had arrived in the UK as of April 11.
Meanwhile more than 600 pets have been brought to the Republic of Ireland since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. With the vast majority being cats and dogs, the pets and their 485 owners have made Ireland their new home.
The government confirmed the figures on Wednesday, with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue promising Ireland will continue to operate an open-door policy for Ukrainians and their pets. According to the figures, 333 dogs and 285 cats have travelled to Ireland with their owners from Ukraine, in addition to a number of smaller household pets.
Ireland has taken in just under 25,000 refugees so far from the war-torn country.
