Ukraine reports five million internally displaced amid war damage

Ukraine currently has around five million internally displaced persons as a result of the ongoing military conflict with Russia, said Olena Shuliak, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Organisation of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.

Speaking during an event held on the margins of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Shuliak said that approximately 2.5 million Ukrainian families are facing housing-related difficulties due to damage caused by the conflict, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Due to Russian attacks, 13% of Ukraine’s housing stock has been destroyed. Housing belonging to 2.5 million families has been damaged or completely destroyed, amounting to more than 70 million square metres,” she said.

Shuliak noted that, in addition to the millions displaced within the country, more than 6.5 million Ukrainians are currently living abroad.

She also announced that Ukraine has adopted a new law on housing policy, which she said would help establish a modern, transparent, and effective framework for the country’s housing sector.

According to Shuliak, the legislation is intended to create new opportunities for developing a high-quality housing policy amid the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva