MOSCOW, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - The number of refugees from southeastern Ukraine housed in temporary facilities across Russia has increased by almost 6,000 and now makes up around 58,000 people, a representative for the interdepartmental control headquarters told RIA Novosti on Monday.
“As of Monday morning, 802 temporary accommodation facilities [29 over the past weekend] containing 57,690 people have been established in Russian regions,” the official said. He added that almost 38,300 Ukrainian refugees have been moved further from the border, using various kinds of transport, including rail.
The accommodations will remain open until a new system for the reception of refugees is established, Russian Emergencies Ministry deputy head Lt. Gen. Vladimir Stepanov said August 14. He also noted that the Emergencies Ministry would not administer the accommodation facilities once they become stationary.
Temporary placement centers are generally located in cultural and educational facilities, as well as in health resorts and camps and large sports venues. Railway cars are also frequently used for housing refugees. Accommodation facilities can handle from 50 to several thousand people each.
The stream of refugees fleeing from southeast Ukraine to Russia has rocketed since June amid continuing fighting between the region’s pro-independence fighters and Ukrainian troops. According to the UN refugee agency estimates released on August 5, more than 730,000 people have fled Ukraine for Russia since January.
