Through a project led by UN Human Rights, Moldova is improving access to essential services for hundreds of marginalised Ukrainian refugees. These services include medical assistance, care, and assistive devices for both children and adults with disabilities.
Funded by the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (DG ECHO), the programme aims to protect the human rights of refugees with special needs, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, children, single mothers, and members of the Roma community.
“Every refugee has a story of loss and trauma behind them,” said Bea Ferenci, head of UN Human Rights Moldova. “This initiative seeks to improve their access to services and assistance, and also guarantee the human right of all refugees to equality and non-discrimination.”
Vital support
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, UN Human Rights has been providing support to refugees fleeing to Moldova. Nearly one million people displaced from Ukraine have arrived in Moldova, with approximately 124,000 currently remaining in the country, seeking safety from an armed conflict that has now entered its third year.
Government statistics indicate that around 80% of those arriving are women, children, and ageing individuals. These refugees face various risks, including difficulties in finding housing, accessing healthcare, and the threat of falling into poverty. According to a recent study by the Norwegian Refugee Council, many have exhausted their savings and increasingly rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.
Since its launch in June 2023, the UN Human Rights project has provided essential supplies such as diabetes and cancer medications, diapers, walking aids, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, and other assistive devices. This initiative operates through a referral system that connects refugees with Moldovan and international NGOs, covering all administrative regions of Moldova, including the left bank of the Nistru/Dniester River.
During visits to humanitarian centres, distribution points, and refugee accommodation sites, UN Human Rights officers identify at-risk individuals who require specialised services and support. These individuals are then referred to appropriate service providers.
In Moldova, UN Human Rights has interviewed 2,130 Ukrainian refugees and 546 members of host communities, gathering data on their human rights situations and experiences with discrimination. As Olha Florynska, a UN Information Management and Reporting officer in Moldova, stated, this information enables the Office to produce comprehensive and disaggregated data on various refugee groups, including marginalised communities.