SIMFEROPOL, July 2 (RIA Novosti) – About 500 refugees from Ukraine’s southeastern regions arrive daily in Crimea, Crimean State Council Chairman Vladimir Konstantinov said Wednesday.
“The situation is extremely tense. Around 500 refugees arrive in Crimea daily,” Konstantinov told journalists.
The council chairman stressed that the republic will receive refugees despite the fact that the region is also facing other important issues related to the maintenance of Crimea’s citizens and the transition period of reunification with Russia.
“These are our compatriots and we will help them. We will give away everything we have but will not let people live in misery. We will render refugees whatever help we can,” Konstantinov said.
Thousands of Ukrainian refugees have been forced to leave their native country and seek shelter in neighboring Russia amid ongoing battles between pro-Kiev forces and independence supporters in the country’s east.
Dozens of Russia’s regions are accommodating Ukrainian citizens and have established special temporary centers. Air bridges have been ordered by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry to evacuate refugees from Ukraine’s restive regions.
According to the recent UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates, about 110,000 people have fled Ukraine to Russia since the beginning of the crisis.
By order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government is taking urgent measures to support the regions sheltering Ukrainian refugees.
A special task force has been formed to deal with temporary social arrangements for the refuges. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev finalized the list of members for the task force.