Hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who fled their war-torn home country have made camp at the Mexico-US border at Tijuana.

Footage from March 31 shows dozens of tents that have been sent up at the makeshift camp.

According to the filmer, volunteer groups are handing out supplies to those in need: "Volunteers and aid groups can be seen handing out pizza and water to many of the asylum-seekers, who are living in makeshift camps while trying to navigate the difficult and confusing legal process."

They also added: "Per a volunteer aid worker familiar with the situation, women with young children have been given priority and some allowed to enter the USA in an expedited fashion, while many others are turned away at the border or have to wait multiple days to have their claims heard."

A local translator informed Newsflare's filmer that the majority of the Ukrainians at the camp had fled to neighbouring countries such as Poland, Germany and Hungary before flying to Mexico and making their way to Tijuana.

The filmer went on to describe the chaotic scene at the border: "Adults were seen bathing with buckets of water in broad daylight.

"An aid worker also expressed exasperation with the border policies as all of the Ukrainians she has spoken to have said they had 'been informed' that the US was planning to let Ukrainian asylum-seekers enter without the lengthy waits endured by Central American and Haitian asylum-seekers, but the situation is becoming unmanageable.

"There is also mass confusion as to if the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis even legally qualifies as a valid asylum claim. By her estimate, approximately 350 Ukrainians are showing up at the Tijuana border crossing every day and the number is increasing by the hour."

An upward of 1,000 Ukrainian refugees, fleeing from the Russian invasion, have begun to amass at the Tijuana, Mexico land border crossing with hopes of entering the United States. Volunteers and aid groups can be seen handing out pizza and water to many of the asylum-seekers, who are living in makeshift camps while trying to navigate the difficult and confusing legal process. Per a volunteer aid worker familiar with the situation, women with young children have been given priority and some allowed to enter the USA in an expedited fashion, while many others are turned away at the border or have to wait multiple days to have their claims heard. Through a translator (not captured in video) I was told that many of the Ukrainians initially fled to neighboring countries such as Poland, and even as far as Germany and Hungary before flying to Mexican destinations, primarily Cancun, before taking a domestic flight to Tijuana, MX.
The makeshift refugee camp is located off of a busy road within 150-200 yards of the East Pedestrian border crossing to the USA (San Ysidro, CA), mostly surrounding the Estación SITT "Garita Puerta México" bus stop. There are no services (i.e. bathrooms, running water) in this location and it is immediately apparent that this is a fluid, confusing, and chaotic situation for everyone involved. Adults were seen bathing with buckets of water in broad daylight. The aid worker also expressed exasperation with the border policies as all of the Ukrainians she has spoken to have said they had "been informed" that the USA was planning to let Ukrainian asylum-seekers enter without the lengthy waits endured by Central American and Haitian asylum-seekers, but the situation is becoming unmanageable. There is also mass confusion as to if the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis even legally qualifies as a valid asylum claim. By her estimate, approximately 350 Ukrainians are showing up at the Tijuana border crossing every day and the number is increasing by the hour (at least 800 Ukrainian refugees have attempted to enter the USA through Tijuana border crossing from Mon 03/28 to Wed 03/30). The Ukrainian refugees are also interwoven with thousands of Central American and Mexican nationals who are also attempting to claim asylum. This video gives a firsthand glimpse of the dire refugee crisis at the border as well as a clear lack of organization and infrastructure needed to handle an influx of this magnitude.