More than two million refugees have entered Poland from Ukraine since February 24, the Polish border guards said, and Norway announced its readiness to receive 100,000 Ukrainians, while elements of the European Border Agency were deployed in Moldova to confront the influx of refugees from Ukraine, and Canada launched a program that allows By granting Ukrainians temporary residence permits for three years.
In Poland and Norway
“Today, March 18, at 9 am (local time), the number of refugees from Ukraine has exceeded two million, most of them are women and children,” the Polish border guards wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament on Friday that his country believes it will receive regarding 30,000 Ukrainian refugees this year, but is preparing for a situation in which the number of refugees will reach 100,000 as more Ukrainians flee following Russia’s special military operation in their country.
About 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine in the past three weeks, mostly to Poland and neighboring countries, according to United Nations data.
Frontex on the ground
The European Union has signed an agreement with Moldova, which will take effect immediately, allowing Frontex agents to help the country’s border guards cope with the influx of refugees from Ukraine.
More than 300,000 people who have fled Ukraine have found refuge in neighboring Moldova, which is not a member of the European Union.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told MEPs that “Moldova is having difficulty protecting its border with Ukraine, and cannot register” refugees there. She pointed out that the presence of the Frontex agency would contribute to confronting the danger of trafficking in children and women, which has become very large.
UNHCR said that under a program coordinated by Brussels, six member states pledged to take in 11,500 Ukrainian refugees who have crossed through the territory of Moldova. The signed agreement allows for the deployment of Frontex teams, to help register people fleeing Ukraine.
Temporary residence permits
Canada has announced the launch of a new immigration program that allows Ukrainians fleeing their country to be granted temporary residence permits for up to three years. “Requests for emergency travel permits between Canada and Ukraine are now open,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser said.
Ukrainian refugees can also apply for work and study permits.