On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees to the U.S., with a focus on reunited families. The administration has not yet released details on how soon the U.S. will begin to admit Ukrainians or whether they will be admitted via the traditional refugee resettlement program, via humanitarian parole, or via other legal pathways. The administration also pledged $1 billion in humanitarian assistance for those affected by the war. "This is among the fastest and most generous responses a humanitarian flash appeal has ever received," UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists.

ACC celebrates this step towards offering safety to Ukrainians fleeing war and dangerous conditions in their home country. The UNHCR has declared the situation in Ukraine as Europe’s worst refugee crisis in a century. An estimated 3.6 million Ukrainians have already fled to neighboring countries and an additional 6.5 million are internally displaced.

At the same time that we celebrate this news, we also remain hopeful that the administration will continue to assist in rebuilding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to welcome not just Ukrainians but individuals from all around the world who are in need of safety. We echo the concerns of other advocates who have noted the vastly different treatment of Ukrainian refugees on the ground in Europe and in the media, as compared to the treatment of other groups from the Middle East and Africa. We remain committed to welcoming individuals and families fleeing dangerous conditions from all across the globe, and we urge Coloradans and the global community to not forget other conflicts even as the media coverage spotlights Ukraine. 

The President and CEO of ACC’s parent organization, Dr. Tsehaye Teferra, shared in their press release on Friday:

“While these developments are most welcome, the ECDC urges the U.S. government to take similar action to protect and save the lives of thousands of refugees in Africa and elsewhere, who have already been living in dire conditions due to prolonged conflict long before the war on Ukraine started. As we speak, refugees from Tigray, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, and other countries continue to face harsh conditions, environments, and treatments. Women, children, and vulnerable groups in Africa continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts, man-made famine, economic and political instabilities, wars, and aggression.”

Media Contact:

Maria Farrier, maria@acc-den.org