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Refugee Ukrainian in an emergency shelter in Moldova
Photo: DUMITRU DORU / EPA-EFE
The aid organization World Vision warns of increasing hostilities against refugees from Ukraine.
It is observing with concern how tensions and disinformation campaigns are increasing in different countries, according to the organization in a report that takes stock of developments to date.
There are false reports in which Ukrainians are associated with violent crimes or extremism.
Other reports deliberately fueled prejudices and the fear of some locals that they would be disadvantaged compared to the newcomers.
Since the Russian war of aggression began on February 24, around 8.8 million people have left Ukraine, mostly women, children and the elderly.
Most of the refugees found refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland, Moldova or Romania.
"Messages are already being spread across Central and Eastern Europe that could fuel anti-refugee tensions," the Word Vision report said.
"Although this is not yet a major problem, tensions are beginning to develop in some receiving countries."
The authors of the report conclude from this development that Ukrainian refugees, especially children, could be under acute threat in the coming months.
Possible effects are verbal and physical abuse, but also an increase in human trafficking.
The comparison with other refugee movements shows that an escalation can only be stopped by actively countering it.
"The international community must act now to prevent the situation escalating to dangerous levels like those in Lebanon and Bangladesh," the report said.
Despite the obvious differences, past experience has shown that conflicts increase rapidly in the first year after the arrival of refugees.
"There are no obvious reasons why countries like Moldova and Romania should be exempt," Charles Lawley, the report's lead author and senior adviser at World Vision, told the Guardian.
"Given how the global cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone, we have to assume that if nothing is done, tensions will soon arise."
Moldova in particular has been under a lot of pressure since the outbreak of war in neighboring Ukraine.
The poorest country in Europe has taken in around 100,000 refugees, more per capita than any other country in Europe.
That's about 5 percent of the population in a country where inflation is 27 percent and where gas dependency on Russia and Belarus has fueled a fuel crisis.
In order to avoid further conflicts, the report recommends addressing prejudices and removing barriers to integration.
Poland is mentioned as an example.
»When refugees are able to settle down, find work, access health care and education and start their own businesses, this has a significant positive impact on social cohesion.«
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