“Europe’s response has been remarkable,” Filippo Grandi said in a statement on Tuesday, while urging other nations to step up.

He added that a European Union (EU) directive on temporary protection, announced last Thursday, “offers refugees security and options, a chance for stability during a time of great upheaval.”

Encouraged but saddened

Mr. Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, spent five days in the region where he met with refugees, aid workers, local responders and governments.

Although encouraged by the European response, he remains deeply saddened for Ukraine and its people.

“At the borders, I saw an exodus of people, mainly women and children, as well as elderly refugees and people with disabilities. They arrived shocked and deeply affected by the violence and their arduous journeys to safety. Families have been needlessly torn apart. Tragically, unless the war is stopped, so will many others,” he said.

Ukrainians have been flocking to neighboring countries since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.

“Outpouring of spontaneous solidarity”

The majority, more than 1.2 million, headed for Poland. Others traveled through Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and beyond.

Its staff has stepped up operations to meet ever-increasing needs.

Mr. Grandi said that UNHCR supports the coordination of the humanitarian response. “Dozens of experts and tens of millions of dollars in aid” have also been deployed to help governments provide material and cash assistance, while protection teams have been strengthened to meet the needs of women and children.

Share the responsibility

The UN refugee chief, however, called on the international community to step up support for refugees and host communities, particularly in Moldova. Some 250,000 people found refuge there.

“All European states must continue to show generosity. Other countries, beyond Europe, also have an important role to play in helping those in need and sharing international responsibility for millions of refugees,” said Mr. Grandi.

While in the region, the UN refugee chief also raised concerns about discrimination and racism against some communities fleeing Ukraine. The authorities assured him that they would not discriminate against or turn back people fleeing to safety.

Heavy fighting continues

Meanwhile, the situation inside Ukraine remains shocking, as people seek shelter from the fighting by all means.

On Monday, some 1,335 casualties were recorded, including 474 deaths, according to the United Nations human rights office, OHCHR, although the actual figures are considerably higher.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that UN teams and open sources had reported heavy fighting in the east and northeast, including in Mariupol, Chuhuiv, Kharkiv, Izyum , Chernihiv, Sumy and Sievierodonetsk.

Extremely violent clashes were also reported in the north, on the outskirts of the capital Kiev, notably in Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin.

People trapped in some of these areas do not have access to supplies, Mr Dujarric said, speaking during his daily briefing in New York.

“We welcome public communications from both sides regarding their intention to facilitate the safe passage of civilians out of conflict areas, including Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy,” he added. he told reporters.

Assistance inside Ukraine

Humanitarians are stepping up their intervention in the east and west, as security permits.

UN partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross, has provided more than 200,000 medical items to the mobile clinics, while Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has delivered around 120 cubic meters of medical supplies to the country.

Mr Dujarric said that in the west, the main focus is on supporting the internally displaced. The UN migration agency, IOM, has so far delivered more than 18,000 thermal blankets, while UNHCR has provided thermal blankets and mattresses to 6,000 people.

He added that the humanitarians have established a joint operations coordination center in Rzeszow, Poland, for all organizations responding to the crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries.

Concern for Chernobyl personnel

In its latest update, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to express concern about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of the devastating 1986 accident, and the ‘stressful situation’ faced by its staff who have been, in fact, confined there.

About 210 technicians and guards at the site have been working since invading Russian forces took control of the facility nearly two weeks ago.

IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said Ukrainian regulatory authorities had informed the agency that it was becoming more and more urgent and important to rotate staff.

They asked the IAEA “to lead the international support needed to prepare a replacement plan for current staff and to provide the facility with an effective rotation system.”

Mr. Grossi underlined that personnel operating nuclear installations must be able to rest and work in regular shifts.

He again expressed his willingness to visit the Chernobyl power plant, or elsewhere, as part of efforts to help protect the country’s nuclear facilities.