Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters), -UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday that while countries are primarily focused on Ukraine, they should be aware of other crises which could worsen as a result.

Filippo Grandi stated that the “colossal crise” in Ukraine would increase the global number of people who are displaced well beyond the 84 millions it reached in the late 2021s. There were 6 million Ukrainian refugees and 8 million people living in displacement in the country.

Josep Borrell was the EU’s foreign policy chief. He presided over a meeting that Grandi attended. Grandi said that the UNHCR chief had told him that 100 million people were being forced from their homes.

The global displacement crisis is growing, unfortunately. Grandi stated before the meeting that he believed it was important to convey the message “There is more than Ukraine, and we shouldn’t forget about the rest.”

“First, because Ukraine can have an effect on many other fragile circumstances, making them more vulnerable, food security. Energy crisis. Price increases. Instability and then that in turn may cause more displacement.” he stated.

Grandi exhorted EU countries and others to stop reducing overseas development aid due to increased spending in Ukraine. This is to help with refugee influx, just as Sweden did.

This will lead to a backlash if you do it and also weaken other areas’ response. He said that this would lead to higher insurance costs elsewhere.

Borrell claimed that the EU had been aware of the fact that the Ukraine conflict has exacerbated situations in fragile areas. Borrell said that the EU had pledged money to conferences in support of the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and Lake Chad regions.

His statement was, “We know that we have entered a period for food diplomacy after the mask diplomacy. Remember at the beginning COVID and later vaccine diplomacy.