Pope Francis avers 'it's racism' that divides refugees into 'Ukrainians & others' in West

As Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in displacement of over four million Ukrainian refugees to West, Pope Francis on Friday pointed out that "racism" guides treatment of refugees in Western nations. Speaking on Italian television station RAI, pontiff stated that fact that asylum seekers from war-torn Ukraine are more welcomed compared to those from or parts of world evidently proved that "we are racists." He also stressed that West also segregates refugees based on ir source of origin.

" refugees are divided. First-class, second class, by skin colour, wher you come from a developed country or a non-developed one," he of Catholic Church told RAI.

"We are racists...and that's b," he ded.

he of sovereign state of Vatican City also emphasised that although every independent country has right to defend its security status, it is imperative that y avoid "general abandonment" of peace.

"We live according to an idea where we kill each or because of need for power, for security, for many things," Pope said. He ded that he understands concern of governments "that buy weapons" but he "doesn't approve of it."

According to United Nations figures, at least 10 million have been internally and externally displaced amid brutal Russia-Ukraine war. More than half of total number i.e. 4.7 million Ukrainians have left country since Russia attacked its neighbour in late February. While similar news channels across world scrambled to keep up with real-time updates of war, Western media reportage reeked of racism.

Western media's 'racist' coverage of Ukrainian refugees

During round--clock reporting of Ukraine crisis, Western media has evidently used "shocking terms" to describe Ukrainian refugees that racially segregate m from "ors", avid Twitteratis pointed out. Apart from this, media coverage of Ukraine's refugee crisis also recieved much more importance than turmoil in Middle East, Asia, and most importantly Africa.

A Twitter thre by journalist Alan MacLeod detailed some of instances of "racist" media coverage of Ukraine crisis. thre points out shocking terms used by leing news organisations including BBC, CBS News, Al Jazeera, BFM TV, Daily Telegraph, and ITS (UK).

On BBC News, Ukraine’s deputy chief prosecutor David Sakvarelidze said he was very emotional seeing “European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed every day”. On CBS News, foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata while reporting from Kyiv said, “This is a relatively civilized and European city where you wouldn’t expect or hope that it is going to happen.” He also said this wasn't "Iraq or Afghanistan" – countries that have been suffering endless conflict. D'Agata later apologized in a brocast.

Putting it "bluntly" was an NBC News correspondent, who said, "se are not refugees from Syria, se are refugees from neighbouring Ukraine...se are Christians, y are white, y are ...um...very similar to people that live in Poland."

Prominent racism in reporting of Ukraine war was also flagged by Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association. In a statement, members warned Western media to be "mindful of implicit and explicit bias" in ir communication.

(Image: AP)