It's now believed the fighting in Ukraine has pushed 1 million people into neighboring countries – and that could just be the start.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
So far, most refugees have crossed the border into Poland.
Some are heading for other neighboring countries including Romania and Hungary.
"We could get to about 7 million (people) is the estimate who would cross the western border of Ukraine. So, it's a gigantic migration...one of the highest ever," said Dr. Coleen Kivlahan, Medical Director at the UCSF Human Rights Asylum Clinic.
She told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday the Ukrainian exodus is only adding to the existing refugee crisis.
Around the world, about 280 million people have fled their homes because of conflict, authoritarian governments and climate change.
"I don't know whether any of us can really imagine what it would be like to be given an hour or two to look around our room, find our documents that are critical to just get across the border let alone to live a new life and figure out which of our minimal belongings we're going to take in that (rolling) bag or in our backpack or one our head," Kivlahan added.
It's estimated there are three times as many refugees living outside of their home countries as there were in the 1970s.
LISTEN to KCBS Radio
FAVORITE KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
