Is Moldova ready for a possible Ukrainian humanitarian crisis?
Western countries continue to urge Russia to take “concrete” steps to ease tensions over military consolidation of the border with Ukraine after they skeptically received Moscow’s announcement to begin withdrawing troops from the area. “We have not seen any evidence of this withdrawal so far,” British Foreign Secretary Ben Wallace told Times Radio. That is why the danger of a Russian attack on Ukraine has not disappeared. In this context, are the authorities in Chisinau expecting a possible wave of refugees from the neighboring country and, above all, are they ready to face them?
The first mass exodus of civilians from eastern Ukraine caused by military operations in Donbass took place in 2014. with which it operates The UN Refugee Agency says that at that time 134 Ukrainian citizens applied for asylum in the Republic of Moldova. The following year, 123 applications were registered, and in 2016 – 22 requests. In reality, the number of refugees could be higher, or many refugees have taken refuge with relatives in the Republic of Moldova without having officially applied for asylum.
A reply from the Ministry of the Internet to Free Europe states that the Office for Migration and Asylum is running a temporary accommodation center for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. Accommodation capacity and 120 seats, with the possibility of expanding the number to 250.
“The institutions of the Republic of Moldova have prepared the logistics and operationalized the procedures for managing possible immigrant flows. We are in constant contact with the neighboring state and the international community, including specialized international institutions, for the coordination of joint activities and interventions. Migration flows will be managed in accordance with international standards and regulations. The situation is constantly monitored and mutual information with the neighboring state and the international community is ensured “, it is shown in the reaction of the authorities.
Probably those who take care of family ties or are from Moldova could come to Moldova
lawyer Oleg Palii, The 24-year-old executive director of the Law Center provides legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers, and is one of the partner organizations of the UN Refugee Agency. In his opinion, it is unlikely that Moldova will face a wave of refugees in the event of an armed conflict in the neighboring country. Why? First of all, Ukraine’s liberalization agreement with the European Union, a document that allows Ukrainian citizens to move freely in the EU. “What was not in 2014 and the citizens of Ukraine could not then enter the European territory without a visa and the situation of a Ukrainian citizen who chooses where to go: in Europe or in the Republic of Moldova, I assume that Europe will be a priority as the direction of asylum. Probably those who take care of family ties or are from Moldova or may be Moldovan citizens living in Ukraine could come to Moldova, but we cannot categorize them as refugees, because they are not Ukrainian citizens, they are Moldovan citizens. . ”
As the crisis in Ukraine has attracted international attention, Moldova will most likely be assisted by neighboring countries and the European Union in the event of an alleged wave of refugees, Oleg Palii believes. The UN Refugee Agency is one of the organizations that constantly provides support in the field. In a brief statement to Radio Free Europe, Sergiu Găinăfrom the UN Refugee Agency, stated that the institution is with eyes on developments in Ukraine.
“We at the UN Refugee Agency are following the situation very closely. However, the situation remains unpredictable. In the meantime, the UN and its humanitarian partners in Ukraine hope that the ongoing tensions will not escalate and will be resolved through diplomatic and political means between all parties involved. “
Authorities in the neighboring country, Romania, have announced that they are preparing to deal with a possible wave of refugees from Ukraine. The Minister of Interior of Bucharest, Lucian Bode, announced that Romania has prepared the reception camps for Ukrainian citizens, stating that the organization of temporary accommodation camps has also been taken into account.