Thanks to our partner CartONG, in particular Fabien Lezeau, we are able to present the scale of the displacement to which civilians are subjected in Gaza, Ukraine and, for Ukrainians, outside their country.
In Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine has led to one of the largest displacement crises in recent history, with millions forced to flee both internally and abroad. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 5 million people are internally displaced, while 6.6 million more have sought refuge outside Ukraine.
Internally, displacement is concentrated in regions close to the front lines, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine. Many individuals have moved multiple times, seeking safety as fighting intensifies. Major cities like Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro have become hubs for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Externally, neighboring countries such as Poland, Moldova and Romania have taken in large numbers of refugees. Poland alone has received over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees, with Moldova and Romania hosting hundreds of thousands more. This refugee flow predominantly consists of women, children and the elderly, as men aged 18 to 60 remain in Ukraine due to martial law.
There has also been a notable flow of returnees, with IOM reporting that several million Ukrainians have attempted to return home as front lines shift. However, many of these returns are temporary due to ongoing instability and a lack of essential services in war-affected areas.
In Gaza
The Israeli military response following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack has forced Palestinians into a constant state of displacement with no refuge in sight. Gaza, under a blockade since 2007, saw an intensification of restrictions after the attack, as Israel closed all border crossings. When the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called for an evacuation of Gaza’s northern region to pave the way for their military campaign, it triggered a mass exodus southwards, first towards Deir al-Balah and later towards Khan Yunis.
Despite these designated evacuation zones, our analysis reveals that over 42% of reported strikes have occurred outside these so-called “safe zones”. Nowhere in Gaza has proven safe, with schools, hospitals and camps for displaced persons being targeted, erasing any semblance of sanctuary. The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only exit, allowed approximately 100,000 people to escape into Egypt before it, too, was effectively sealed in May 2024. The southern area, once considered a refuge for the displaced, started facing evacuation orders in late May 2024. Designated safe areas have repeatedly been struck, with the 13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack – where eight 2,000-pound bombs leveled a refugee camp, killing 90 and injuring more than 300 – serving as a grim testament to the difficulty of finding safety within the Gaza Strip.
