The governments of EU countries, international organisations and civil society have given unprecedented support and assistance to the 8.8 million refugees that have so far fled the ongoing war in Ukraine. Poland, Romania and Moldova have seen a combined total of over 5.7 million people cross their borders from Ukraine already, and have shown them great hospitality.

This report from World Vision demonstrates that initial support following such a crisis is not uncommon, but doesn't often last: other large-scale refugee crises - such as those in Syria, Myanmar, Venezuela, Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and many others - have followed a similar pattern wherein host communities are initially welcoming, but then social tension inevitably arises over time and relations often deteriorate. As the war in Ukraine continues, the aim of this report is to examine what EU countries hosting refugees from Ukraine can learn from their peers in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East in order to ensure longer term social cohesion and public support for those displaced from Ukraine.

According to the report, social tension in hosting countries tends to arise from competition over work, accommodation or services. This ultimately causes resentment, as seen in Syria’s neighbouring and refugee-hosting countries. Often there is also a perceived preference by international aid organisations for supporting only refugees, rather than at the same time offering support to their host communities, as well as cultural or religious differences (as seen in Venezuela’s neighbouring and hosting countries). These issues can lead to increased levels of poverty, violence and xenophobia - the report states that negative narratives around refugees are already being spread in Romania, Moldova, Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe.

The report makes the following recommendations to communities hosting refugees from Ukraine:

• Improve infrastructure that benefits all communities.
• Create communication campaigns on co-existence, human rights and education about refugees.
• Facilitate opportunities for interaction between host and refugee communities.
• Develop interventions targeted at children.
• Employ staff from host and refugee communities in refugee response projects.
• Leverage local markets, goods and services to strengthen economic resilience.
• Strengthen churches, places of worship, faith groups and CSOs.
• Engage influential figures in host communities.
• Consider the advantages of remote working and schooling.