The war in Ukraine has forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing the country for safety.
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People living in Ukraine are fleeing to Poland, Hungary and Romania to stay safe while Russian troops close in. Hugh Williamson Director of Europe and Central Asia Division of the Human Rights Watch told KCBS that 115,000 people from Ukraine have fled to Poland since Thursday.
"I mean Poland is already estimating a million people may come to their country, Hungry is putting their figure at 600,000 and Romania at half a million," Williamson said.
He said this is a tragic situation and people are fleeing for good reasons. There have been some reports that Poland and Hungary have not been letting everyone in specifically those who are not "white European."
"There is at least half a million people living in Ukraine who are not Ukrainian they are foreigners studying, working and so on," he explained. "Many from different parts of the world many from Africa and Asia and we have had reports that Poland and Hungary are turning away people."
Williamson said some of those reports have been denied but it is similar to the situation when Poland closed its borders to Belarus when refugees from Afghanistan and the Middle East were fleeing.
"Poland and Hungary had a poor record of letting asylum seekers to come in from many parts of the world," he said.
He believes Poland and Hungary need to get over that and allow anyone from across the world the ability to flee from danger.
Williamson said community groups, national organizations and the United Nations Refugee Agency are gearing up to help Ukrainians. He noted some people are staying in Ukraine but heading west to get out of the main fighting area.
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