As millions are fleeing to safety, people of African, South Asian and Middle Eastern descent in Ukraine have reported facing racism and xenophobia at the Ukrainian- Polish border, with accounts of security and border officials prioritising Ukrainian citizens, as people who are racially and ethnically profiled are prevented from boarding trains and buses, pushed to the back of queues at the border, and unable to access shelter or food as they wait days to cross borders.

The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism Tendayi Achiume has urged governments, humanitarian groups and other actors to ensure all individuals and groups regardless of race, ethnicity or nationality are safely seeking refuge in neighbouring countries without discriminatory treatment or barriers.

Apart from these appalling instances of discrimination, many have been welcomed with open arms into their countries with food, sim cards, clothes, and free transportation.

Videos and images of violence and people fleeing Ukraine are surrounding us on our phones and televisions, giving rise to anti-Russian sentiments in other European countries. Russian restauranteurs are facing verbal assaults, businesses are putting up signs that say they won’t serve Russians and Russian children in primary schools are also being targeted for their nationality.

While in Russia, people are selling their possessions to move abroad as tens of thousands have protested war, with thousands arrested for anti-war sentiments.

It can be easy to feel helpless and angry in the face of injustice and violence faced by Ukraine, giving rise to feelings of resentment towards innocent Russian people. But it is important to remember that geopolitical conflicts aimed to further self-interests of states must not and does not justify harming the human rights of ordinary people who have nothing to do with state affairs.