Majority of Ukrainian refugees, IDPs planning to return home - UN

The UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing, said this at the Ukraine-Ukrinform Media Center, presenting the results of a survey on the intentions and perspectives of refugees and IDPs from Ukraine.

"The absolute majority of both the refugees and IDPs are hoping to return to their homes in Ukraine, the homes they fled from," Lindholm Billing said.

According to the survey, 76% of refugees interviewed by UNHCR in EU countries and Moldova and 82% of internally displaced Ukrainians plan or hope to return permanently.

Lindholm Billing noted that the main factor preventing the return of Ukrainians is the issue of safety and security. Some 90% of refugees abroad and 95% of internally displaced persons said this was the main obstacle preventing them from returning to their homes. Other factors included access to basic services, access to job opportunities, livelihoods, housing and access to education services for children.

She noted that the authors of the survey wanted to hear people who were forced to leave their homes about their plans, fears and intentions to return.

Lindholm Billing said that a large part of Ukrainians living abroad and about 50% of IDPs returned home at least once. In this context, she noted that the UNHCR also helps the countries in which Ukrainians stay to be more flexible in these matters, because it helps to maintain family ties and contacts with the community, which makes their return in the future easier.