UN to support communities of Moldova as result of war in Ukraine

Chisinau, August 18 /MOLDPRES/- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will extend support to the Republic of Moldova, given that a prolonged war in the neighboring country would bring thousands of people below the poverty line, the institution announced yesterday.

UNDP aims to improve the economic, social and environmental resilience of the country, building its support on four pillars: economic and social resilience; livelihoods and socio-economic inclusion; energy, food security and environmental resilience; good governance, the rule of law and anti-corruption.

"Together with the State Chancellery, we will coordinate the working group on inclusion and livelihoods, which will identify the most critical needs regarding the integration of refugees in host communities and will contribute to ensuring decent incomes. By correctly directing efforts towards economic, social and environmental resilience, UNDP, together with its partners, will be able to support both the current humanitarian needs of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the achievement of the country's mid- and long-term sustainable development priorities" , indicates the cited source.

UNDP economic forecasts outline a potentially bleak scenario: 30% of Moldova's population could be living below the poverty line, and 54% of citizens could face high risks of falling into poverty in the next 12 months as a result of the war, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis. UNDP also estimates that over 63% of families in the Republic of Moldova could face energy poverty this year. Thus, many families will be forced to make painful decisions about whether to heat their homes or send their children to school, be able to put food on the table or go to the doctor.

"This is why it is important to act now if we are to help one of the poorest countries in Europe not succumb to the social, political and environmental risks of the war in Ukraine," sums up the United Nations Development Programme.

To provide more than 24 thousand refugees from Ukraine with supplies, accommodation, legal and psychological support, UNDP cooperated with central and local authorities in more than 75 host communities on both banks of the Dniester River. Thus, the UNDP and its partners – the EU, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and France – have allocated about 1.56 million US dollars to partially cover the immediate needs of refugees and host communities, as well as to support socio- of people fleeing war, by promoting employment opportunities, expanding access to public services and ensuring social cohesion.

Photo: UNDP