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A28 u.s. news
Diahuebs 31 Maart 2022

Number of Ukraine refugees passes worst-case U.N. estimate

old son a month ago. She says Russia launched its invasion safe place to stay or are head-
they will only return when on Feb. 24 and sparked Eu- ing to bordering European
“bombs stop exploding in rope’s largest refugee cri- countries. UNHCR teams
my city” and “when Russian sis since World War II. That and their partners have been
troops completely leave our number exceeds the worst- working to deliver protec-
territory.” case predictions made at the tion, emergency shelter, cash
start of the war. assistance, core relief items
Elena Litvinova, a 33-year- and other critical services for
old accountant from Myko- Half of the refugees from refugees.
laiv, is also skeptical of Rus- Ukraine are children, ac-
sia’s promises and will only cording to UNHCR and UNHCR projected from the
head home with her two the U.N. children’s agency onset that about 4 million
young children when “our UNICEF. people might flee Ukraine
president says that the war is and said it was regularly reas-
over.” More than 2.3 million refu- sessing its forecasts.
gees from Ukraine entered
(AP) — The number of ated Press, echoed the opin- “During the negotiations, Poland, but some have since Aid workers say the number
people who have fled ion of Ukrainian President the city administration and traveled on to other coun- of people fleeing eased in re-
Ukraine since Russian Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his children’s educational insti- tries. A small number have cent days as many residents
troops invaded has sur- nightly video address, Zelen- tutions where my children returned to Ukraine, either awaited indications of the
passed 4 million, the skyy said that given what was studied were destroyed,” she to help in the defense against direction the invasion might
United Nations reported happening on the ground, said at a refugee center in Ro- the Russians or to care for take. The U.N. estimates the
Wednesday as shelling there was no reason to believe mania’s central city of Bra- relatives. war also has displaced 6.5
continued in places where Russia’s statement about re- sov, where she says they will million people within the
Moscow had vowed to ease ducing military activity near stay until the war is over. “It’s More than 608,000 refugees country.
its military operations. Kyiv and in Chernihiv, a be- still very scary, every day we have entered Romania, over
sieged northern city. get messages from home that 387,000 have gone to Mol- The International Organi-
“I do not know if we can there is shooting and bomb- dova, and about 364,000 have zation for Migration, which
still believe the Russians,” “We can call those signals that ing.” entered Hungary in the last tracks not just refugees but
refugee Nikolay Nazarov, 23, we hear at the negotiations five weeks, UNHCR said, all people on the move from
said as he crossed Ukraine’s positive,” Zelenskyy said in Olha Kovalyova, who ar- based on counts provided their homes, reported earlier
border into Poland with his his address to the Ukrainian rived in Poland with her by the governments of those this month that more than
wheelchair-bound father. people. “But those signals two children, said she didn’t countries. 12 million people are esti-
don’t silence the explosions trust Moscow because it had mated to be stranded in areas
Despite Russia’s announce- of Russian shells.” failed to fulfill earlier prom- U.N. High Commissioner of Ukraine under attack or
ment during talks on Tuesday ises made in the framework for Refugees Filippo Grandi cannot leave because of secu-
that its forces would ease their For Diana Konstantynova, a of 2014 and 2015 agreements entered Ukraine on Wednes- rity risks, the destruction of
assault near Ukraine’s capital, 45-year-old accountant from aimed at ending fighting be- day and said he would be in bridges and roads and a lack
Kyiv, and elsewhere, Nazarov Vinnytsia in south Ukraine, tween Russia-backed sepa- the western city of Lviv and of information about safe
said he expects “more esca- Russia’s promise to scale ratists and Ukrainian forces discuss ways to increase sup- destinations and lodging.
lation” in the country’s east, back its attacks is not a signal in the eastern Donbas region. port “to people affected and
including the city he and his she can safely return home. displaced by this senseless All told, more than 22 mil-
father fled. The U.N. refugee agency, war.” lion people are either blocked
“I do not believe in a truce,” UNHCR, said Wednesday from moving or have been
Nazarov, like other refugees said Konstantynova, who fled that more than 4 million peo- Lviv has become a destina- forced to flee, IOM figures
interviewed by The Associ- to Romania with her 8-year- ple have left Ukraine since tion for Ukrainians seeking a show.

With at least one GOP vote, Jackson likely to be confirmed

(AP) — Maine Sen. Susan and likely saves them from would also be the first former 2020. Collins, who was up for she will always agree with
Collins said Wednesday having to use Vice President public defender on the court. reelection that year, said she Jackson’s decisions.
she will vote to confirm Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking voted against Barrett because
Judge Ketanji Brown Jack- vote to confirm President Joe It is expected that all 50 of the accelerated six-week “That alone, however, is not
son, giving Democrats at Biden’s pick. Senate Demo- Democrats will support her, timeline. “It’s not a comment disqualifying,” Collins said.
least one Republican vote cratic leaders are pushing though one notable moder- on her,” Collins said of Bar- “Indeed, that statement ap-
and all but assuring that toward a Senate Judiciary ate Democrat, Arizona Sen. rett at the time. plies to all six justices, nomi-
Jackson will become the Committee vote on the nom- Kyrsten Sinema, hasn’t yet nated by both Republican
first Black woman on the ination Monday and a final said how she will vote. In her statement supporting and Democratic presidents,
Supreme Court. Senate vote to confirm Jack- Jackson, the Maine senator whom I have voted to con-
son late next week. Collins was the most likely said she doesn’t expect that firm.”
Collins met with Jackson a Republican to support Jack-
second time this week af- Biden called Collins on son, and she has a history of
ter four days of hearings last Wednesday to thank her after voting for Supreme Court
week and said Wednesday her announcement, accord- nominees picked by presi-
that “she possesses the ex- ing to the senator’s office. dents of both parties, as well
perience, qualifications and The president had called her as other judicial nominations.
integrity to serve as an asso- at least three times before the
ciate justice on the Supreme hearings, part of a larger push The only Supreme Court
Court.” to win a bipartisan vote for nominee she’s voted against
his historic pick. since her election in the mid-
“I will, therefore, vote to 1990s is Justice Amy Coney
confirm her to this position,” Jackson, who would replace Barrett, who was nominated
Collins said. retiring Justice Stephen Brey- by then-President Donald
er, would be the third Black Trump after the death of Jus-
Collins’ support gives Dem- justice, after Thurgood Mar- tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in
ocrats at least a one-vote shall and Clarence Thomas, the weeks before Trump’s
cushion in the 50-50 Senate and the sixth woman. She election defeat to Biden in