NNA - More than eight million people are estimated to have been internally displaced by Russia's war in Ukraine, having fled their homes and stayed within the country, the United Nations said Tuesday.

This is in addition to the more than 5.9 million Ukrainians who have left the country entirely since Moscow invaded on February 24.

The figure for the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of May 3, issued by the UN's International Organization for Migration, is up from the estimate of 7.7 million that the IOM gave as of April 17.

"The needs of those internally displaced and all affected by the war in Ukraine are growing by the hour," said IOM director general Antonio Vitorino.

"Access to populations in need of aid remains a challenge amid active hostilities, but our teams are committed to continue delivering urgent assistance inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries."

The IOM conducted its latest survey between April 29 and May 3.

Sixty-three percent of current IDPs are estimated to be women.--AFP

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