Press Releases

09 April 2022, Chisinau Concluding a week-long visit to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Raouf Mazou expressed his appreciation for the remarkable solidarity displayed in both countries towards people fleeing Ukraine.

“In the past days, I have witnessed first-hand the generosity that has thus far characterized the response to the arrival of refugees from Ukraine,” Mazou said at the conclusion of his visit. “We must all express our deep appreciation to the governments and the people of both Romania and the Republic of Moldova for opening their hearts and their homes to those in need, in these very difficult times.”

At a meeting with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in Romania, the Assistant High Commissioner commended the robust emergency response at borders and inside the country, which has so far received some 650,000 refugees. He acknowledged the rapid action taken by the Romanian government to ensure access to rights and services through temporary protection, as well as the strong coordination of the overall national response by the National Emergency Cell.

National authorities have ensured swift access to territory, assistance and onward safe transportation. Visiting the joint UNHCR-UNICEF Blue Dots in Isaccea and Siret, Mazou witnessed the coordination between national NGOs and the authorities as they provide information and identify vulnerable refugees, including unaccompanied and separated children, for referral to protection structures.

On 7 April, Mazou observed the Palanca border crossing point, one of the busiest crossing points into Moldova from Ukraine. Earlier in the week, while in Romania, he visited the Transit Centre in Husi, to which over 7,000 refugees coming from Palanca had been transferred as a result of close cooperation between the two governments and with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration.

Since the onset of the conflict, over 400,000 refugees have crossed into Moldova. Tens of thousands have been assisted to travel onwards to other countries, including through pledges made by EU countries to welcome refugees from Moldova. “The pledges made by European countries to transfer refugees from Moldova to their territory is an effort to share responsibility and ease pressure on receiving countries, as emphasized in the Global Compact on Refugees,” said Mazou.

Mazou also visited the MoldExpo in Chișinău, which is operating as an accommodation facility, a Blue Dot and a cash enrolment centre. Cash enrolments in Moldova are rapidly increasing since the programme was launched at the end of March. In collaboration with the government and the World Food Programme, the aim is to provide cash to some 150,000 people, as well as to Moldovan host families who have opened their homes to refugees fleeing Ukraine.

The need to strengthen existing national systems to enable them to respond to the needs of refugees and host communities is essential, particularly given the scale of this crisis, as was discussed with Sergiu Odainic, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. Following an initial three-month period, refugees should be able to access national support mechanisms, thus avoiding the need for parallel systems.

“The whole-of-society mobilization and solidarity which I have seen during my visit – from government to civil society to volunteers – has been truly humbling. We have to ensure that it reaches all refugees, irrespective of where they are fleeing from,” said Mazou.

Media contacts:

• In Romania, Gabriela Leu, [email protected], +40 722 212097
• In Moldova, Kisut Gebre Egziabher, [email protected], +37 367 722 468, Whatsapp: +254 712 856 340
• In Geneva, Matthew Saltmarsh, [email protected], +41 79 967 99 36

Chisinau, Moldova – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, today announced that cash will soon be provided to both refugees fleeing Ukraine and families hosting them in Moldova. It follows an initial small scale cash distribution from UNHCR in February.

Cash will be distributed electronically, using a prepaid card scheme set up in collaboration with Moldova’s largest bank, maib. UNHCR’s local partners CRS / Caritas Moldova, ensure enrolment using an innovative PRIMES system to collect biodata, in line with Government practice. This will ensure that cash grants are distributed efficiently and without duplication.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilița said “Refugees are arriving in Moldova with little more than the clothes they are wearing and the few items they could carry. It is important that UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies provide cash to help them meet their immediate needs. We appreciate that similar support is being extended to vulnerable Moldovan families who have generously opened their homes to the refugees”.

UNHCR Representative in Moldova, Francesca Bonelli, said “The government and people of Moldova have shown extraordinary solidarity in welcoming unprecedented numbers of refugees into their country and into their homes in the past weeks.  When people are forced to flee their homes, they leave with the bare essentials, losing their ability to earn and spend in the process. Providing immediate cash assistance to refugees and to their Moldovan hosts is an absolute priority.”

Moldovan Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Marcel Spatari said “Our borders remain open for all those who need to access our territory, but more support must continue to reach all those in need”.

WFP Head of Office in Moldova, Cesar Arroyo explained that, “providing cash is an ideal way for affected families to buy the items that they need, when they need them. There is a positive secondary impact too when the cash is spent in Moldovan shops, supporting the local economy.”

Provision of cash assistance is a collaborative effort led by the Government, and supported by UNHCR, WFP, IOM, UNICEF, NGOs and other actors.

UNHCR has been providing cash support for refugees in many countries hosting refugees around the world. This type of support offers dignity of choice in meeting needs, while facilitating inclusion, and boosting local economies. It is currently being rolled out in several countries hosting refugees fleeing from Ukraine. Cash distribution is also closely aligned with the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees in terms of easing pressure on host communities and enhancing refugee self-reliance.

WFP provides cash support to empower families with choice to address their essential needs in local markets, while also helping boost those markets. In 2021, WFP transferred US$ 2.3 billion of purchasing power to 41.8 million people in 69 countries. Where markets and financial sectors are functioning, as is the case in Moldova, cash transfers can be an effective path to achieve food security and nutrition outcomes.

For more information, please contact:

UNHCR:

• In Chisinau: Kisut Gebreegziabher, [email protected], cell: +37367722468, +254712856340 (WhatsApp)

WFP:

• In Chisinau: Edward JOHNSON, Email: [email protected], Tel: +373 60865806