UN Officials Call Everyone Auction With War In Ukraine

The impact of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - Fatigue due to war in Ukraine and cuts in US-led foreign aid jeopardize efforts to support people fleeing difficulties, the head of the UN migration agency warned in an interview on Friday.

Director-General of International Organizations for Migration (IOM) Amy Pope spoke a day after the Ukraine recovery conference in Rome mobilized more than $10 billion for the country.

"This conflict has been going on for three and a half years. I think it's fair to say everyone is tired, and we've heard of it even from Ukrainians who have been under constant attacks in their cities and have often fled several times," he told Reuters. July 11th.

"However, the response to this must be peace, because in the end, without peace, there will be no end, not only for requests for funds, but also for support for the Ukrainian people," he continued.

The Russian invasion has sparked the largest refugee crisis in Europe this century, with 5.6 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide and 3.8 million displaced people in their country, according to UN data.

IOM and other UN agencies were hampered by a large lack of funding as US President Donald Trump cut overseas aid, while European donors such as the UK diverted funds from development to defense.

The US decision would lead to an IOM's $1 billion shortfall this year, Pope said, adding that a budget reduction should be carried out in stages or President Trump and others risk triggering a more severe migration crisis.

"Just giving help and then leaving nothing will not work. And what we see happens when support decreases is people moving again. So (the cuts) can ultimately have a negative impact," he said.

Pope said IOM has decades of experience in such programs in Europe and its implementation takes time, especially to prepare returning migrants and ensure they leave voluntarily.

"It doesn't always go as fast as the government wants," Pope said.

When asked if IOM would stop cooperating with the US if the repatriation turned out to be forced, he said: "We have explained to them our standards, and just like every member country, we outline what we can and cannot do, and they understand it, and it is part of the deal."