UN World Food Program to play key role in managing refugee crisis in Moldova

Chisinau, March 19 / MOLDPRES /- Mechanisms to ensure food security in the context of the refugee crisis in Ukraine were discussed yesterday during the meeting of Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița with the delegation of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) that is currently in the Republic of Moldova, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

Natalia Gavrilița mentioned that our country receives the largest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita and, in this context, the support of the international community is of the utmost importance.

Thus, in support of the management of the refugee crisis in Ukraine, in the next period, WFP will initiate a three-meal delivery program per day for refugee placement centers. WFP will also take over the logistical aspects of storing and transporting humanitarian aid to town halls, placement centers and emergency shelters.

"In this unprecedented situation, we rely on consistent and prompt support to ensure the transportation of refugees wishing to reach other destinations, access to additional funding mechanisms, and continued humanitarian assistance needed for foreign nationals fleeing the war. from Ukraine ", Natalia Gavrilița underlined.

"We are very impressed by the actions of the Government of the Republic of Moldova in the context of the flow of refugees from Ukraine, but also how the Moldovan population reacted and how the communities came together to support the Ukrainians. Together with the Government and the UN Refugee Agency, we will work to strengthen the processes that have already begun, but also to provide support to refugee families, ”said Robert Turner, director of the World Food Program.

After the Government meeting, the WFP delegation went with the Secretary General of the Government, Dumitru Udrea, to visit the temporary refugee placement center organized within the sports complex of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. The center has a capacity of 120 places, and today, there are 64 refugees here. Most of them are women with children and pregnant women. The center is equipped with sleeping areas, canteen, gym, a medical center and free internet. At the medical center, refugees are provided with medical and psychological assistance.

The Secretary-General of the Government and members of the delegation discussed with the refugees the conditions of accommodation and food. The people staying at the center thanked the authorities for their support.

"Today, there are 103 such refugee placement centers across the country, with a total capacity of over 9,400 places. It is extremely important the support that the World Food Program will provide to the Government in order to ensure good living conditions for the period when the refugees from Ukraine are on the territory of our country ", mentioned Dumitru Udrea.

In turn, the WFP delegation expressed the readiness of the organization to increase its presence in the Republic of Moldova and to support the efforts of the Government, by providing the necessary technical and logistical support.

Photo: Government