Amidst the largest outflow of refugees in Europe in decades, Japan has generously responded to
UNHCR’s call for assistance, with two separate contributions to support Ukrainian refugees entering
the Republic of Moldova. The first, signed on 11 March 2022, will ensure that vulnerable refugees
from Ukraine have access to documentation, legal assistance, comprehensive access to services to
mitigate the risk of sexual and gender-based violence, and child protection services. Crucially, this
support will also enable UNHCR to provide refugees with core relief items – the basic essentials that
families need, including blankets, kitchen sets, jerry-cans, plastic sheeting, and solar lamps.
This support comes as part of a vital contribution to UNHCR of USD 25.6 million provided by the people
of Japan for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries that have so generously opened their doors to
Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.
“UNHCR is thankful to the people and government of Japan for their generous support to refugees
from Ukraine”, said Francesca Bonelli, the UNHCR Representative in Moldova. „We shall make sure
the money goes to meeting the basic needs of the refugees who fled with very little belongings, leaving
everything else behind.
The people of Japan also provided an additional USD 14.5 million to UNHCR on 5 April 2022. In
Moldova, this funding will enable UNHCR to build the capacity of service providers, support people
with specific needs and provide legal assistance for refugees from Ukraine. This will also help to
support and equip Moldova’s Refugee Accommodation Centres which provide refugees with a place
to stay whilst they determine their longer-term options.
As of 5 April, Moldova has welcomed more than 396,000 refugees from Ukraine, an astounding display
of solidarity from a country of 3 million people. More than 4.2 million have now fled Ukraine, with a
further 6.5 million internally displaced – alarming numbers that continue to climb as the crisis
continues. UNHCR is appealing for USD 510 million to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the
4.5 million people affected by this emergency.
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