Refugee integration in Republic of Moldova: achievements, obstacles, partnerships and opportunities

On 1^st December, within the Refugees Directorate, took place the sixth meeting of the National Committee of Coordination the Project “Refugees Local Integration in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine”. The meeting was organized by UNHCR Representation in Moldova and aimed the communication of the achievements by the partners involved in the project and the initiation of new discussions related to the problems faced by refugees in Moldova.   

Mr. Peter Kessler, UNHCR Representative in Moldova stated that one of the projects aims was the renovation of the housing for refugees and their accommodation. For this purpose were identified several regions, but we stopped on three of them and namely: Mereni, Rezeni and Hrusova. A considerable effort was made to renovate these buildings and we hope that the refugees will be accommodated there in proper conditions. Unfortunately, due the lack of funds wasn’t possible the renovation of more housings for our common beneficiaries, said Mr. Peter Kessler.

  

Another achievement of which talked the UNHCR Representative was related to the study visits organized in many countries, the most recent took place in Czech Republic. And the collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Bureau of Migration and Asylum, aimed the assimilation of new integration practices in other states. Also Mr. Kessler hopes that for the achievement of an efficient integration of the refugees in Republic of Moldova, the authorities will get involved through discussions and adoption in Parliament, by the end of the year of the Law of refugees integration.    

  

Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Migration and Asylum, Chief of the Refugee Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that “the renovation of these buildings is a very good thing, but it is not enough, because the number of refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection is much more. However, we will continue to look other ways to integrate the refugees in several regions of the country. Encouraging is the fact that some of them have integrated by their own during the years, including mixed marriages with the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Being a refugee does not mean to be poor and that UNHCR should built them houses. Some of them have solved their issues with the accommodation individually, but surely their number is much lower”, said Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru. “In the future we aim the organization of some meetings with the population of the villages were the refugees will be accommodated, to let them know what means to live with strangers, it will be a moment of tolerance education among the local population”, added the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Migration and Asylum.        

At the same meeting, Mrs. Natalia Postaru, Project Coordinator, NGO “AVE Children”, mentioned the achievements related to the social assistance during the last 6 months. To monitor the situation of those 220 beneficiaries, 50 social visits have been organized, was evaluated the situation of the refugees through monthly meetings organization and debating some important issues. Also, the main accomplishments include the providing, for about 13 refugees, of medical insurance, dental services for children and teenagers, the provision of some food packages and organization of summer camps for children. 

Implementing partners, who attended the meeting, wanted to highlight the need of support from the Ministry of Education, of the linguistic education of the refugees. In this regard, Mrs. Svetlana Jioara, Programs Associate, UNHCR Moldova talked about the course of Romanian language funded by UNHCR, attended by refugees in the Pedagogical University “Ion Creanga”   

Mrs. Eugenia Stupac, Project Assistant, NGO “Charity Center for Refugees” (CCR) talked about the same educational side supported by concrete actions: courses of personal training, English language courses and computer courses for refugees. Just as important was the trips organized by CCR to the Capriana and Hincu Monasteries and the participation at the Ethnics Festival, which has achieved the aim of encouraging the refugees’ integration in the Republic of Moldova.  The most common problem faced by refugees, remains the obtaining of the citizenship of the Moldovan Republic. 

About the legal assistance, spoke at the meeting Mr. Sergiu Gaina, legal Advisor, NGO “Advocates Law Center”, noting that because of some legislative obstacles and not only, many refugees give up to fight for the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova. As a result, in a long period, just 2 refugees were able to obtain the citizenship.

Implementing partners have proposed to contribute to the encouraging of the refugees’ integration in our society, not only with financial support of the partners, events organization, but also through obtaining a legal support of the refugees’ integration in Republic of Moldova from authorities.

Victoria UNGUREANU,

Student-journalist,

ULIM