Supporting refugee inclusion and integration
On the 1st of March, His Excellency Graham Paul, Ambassador of France in the Republic of Moldova visited the raion [district] of Ungheni. The ambassador, accompanied by Francesca Bonelli UNHCR representative, visited the “Solnishco” kindergarten which UNHCR has renovated in cooperation with Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED). “Solnishco” kindergarten has welcomed 19 refugee children from Ukraine in addition to the Moldovan students. “The children have integrated well,” said Mihai Chirileac, a teacher. “We have no problems” Both refugee and...
UNHCR supports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration with IT and communication equipment
March 7, 2023, Chisinau – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration continues to strengthen its administrative and technical capacities to improve its efficiency. Today, the Ministry received a batch of communication and information technology equipment from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, represented in our country by Francesca Bonell. The donation comprises desktop computers, headsets, telephones, monitors, printers, and other IT equipment worth over 7.5 million [Moldovan] lei. This comes at a crucial moment when MAEIE is intensifying its efforts to bring the Republic of...
Religious Leaders call for increased support for refugees and host communities
On 31 January 2023, leaders of different faith traditions, including representatives from the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, gathered in Chisinau, Moldova to call for people of all religions worldwide to increase much-needed support to refugees and host communities. “The Moldovan community and faith-based organisations were among the first ones to welcome us, counsel us, and help us find a place to stay,” said Dmitrii Lekartsev, a representative of the Ukrainian community, who opened the roundtable discussion on peace and solidarity hosted by the Prime Minister of Moldova....
UNHCR’s Grandi praises Moldova’s role in supporting Ukrainian refugees
News Comment: UNHCR’s Grandi praises Moldova’s role in supporting Ukrainian refugees
UNHCR provides winter support to refugees and Moldovans
As temperatures across the Republic of Moldova dip below zero, Lena and her family struggle to make ends meet. The war in Ukraine uprooted them from their Odesa home almost ten months ago, and forced them to seek safety in Moldova, where they still live. Lena’s husband suffers from a physical disability and their two teenage children are in school: their daughter studies at a Moldovan school, while their older son attends Ukrainian classes online. Lena explains how the winter season has brought new challenges for the family. “High prices for food, electricity and gas make it harder to...
Cash assistance, a vital tool for refugee inclusion
When the war in Ukraine reached Kristina’s* city, killing her husband and destroying her home, she had no option but to flee. She is now one of over 96,000 refugees that have chosen to stay in the Republic of Moldova. Kristina found safety and support in Ungheni, a community close to the border with Romania, which has deep historical ties to Ukraine. This small village welcomed Kristina and provided her with an old house to live in – which mirrors how many refugees in this country have found accommodation. She says she is happy to have a roof over her head. “I had nothing after I had to...