United Nations agency condemns governments for discrimination against third-country nationals fleeing Ukraine

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling to end discrimination against third-country nationals fleeing Ukraine.

Nearly 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees have reached Poland, Moldova, Hungary, and other European countries, with more than 78,000 third-country nationals. According to VOA News, a spokesman for the U.N. migration agency has said that these third-country nationals are facing discrimination as they flee the country.

Paul Dillon stated, “We are, of course, deeply concerned about the plight of these people and the verified reports we have received of discrimination, violence and xenophobia directed at them in the course of their journeys both on the Ukrainian side and on the other sides of the borders.”

He remarked that IOM has contracted authorities in Ukraine about these allegations. Dillon is asking the government to investigate discrimination, physical assaults, and other issues that are being reported. Additionally, he asks that countries are treating refugees and third-country nationals humanely and are protected.

Dillon said, “We are now looking at roughly 138 countries represented among those who have left Ukraine. So, clearly this issue of the third-country nationals and their ongoing needs and their continuing needs is going to be one of the things that we will be addressing in the weeks to come.”