Moldova did for refugees what bigger countries could not do, UN High Commissioner for Refugees says

Chisinau, 20 Jan. /MOLDPRES/- Starting today, people who request a form of protection on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the staff of the General Inspectorate for Migration, who provide them with assistance, will benefit from a modern space, equipped to the highest standards, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

The inauguration of the headquarters of the Asylum and Statelessness Department of the General Inspectorate for Migration and the documentation desk of temporary protection beneficiaries took place today, with the participation of Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Minister of Internal Affairs Ana Revenco.

"These are decent conditions for all those who, against their will, had to leave their countries of origin. Our efforts to integrate into the EU involve not only the implementation of reforms, the operation of changes in legislation, but also the improvement of all the services that the state offers to its own citizens or people fleeing the path of war. We demonstrated that our society is one that not only declares, but also lives European values. This was seen in the way we managed the refugee crisis together - citizens, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, the Government and local public authorities", said Natalia Gavrilița.

For his part, Filippo Grandi noted the way in which the Republic of Moldova got involved in providing the necessary aid to refugees, stressing that our country deserves all international support, and UNHCR will continue to mobilize direct support, including to host families and state institutions. "The Republic of Moldova - a small country with limited resources, has done for refugees what larger countries could not do, and I hope the whole world will see this and support this effort. The recent approval by the Government of the temporary protection mechanism is also a very important step that will give refugees more stability and access to various services. At the same time, this mechanism will become an important element of the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU family", said Filippo Grandi.

The officials also approached the actions to support Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, focusing on the inclusion of refugee children in the school environment, the development of new programs and support actions for educational institutions that integrate refugees in the community. At the same time, Filippo Grandi spoke about the Global Forum for Refugees, which will be organized this December. "The Republic of Moldova will be more than a participant in this event. You have enough experience to talk about your successes and encourage other states," he said.

Since the beginning of the war, more than 750 thousand people from Ukraine entered the Republic of Moldova, of which about 102,000 people still remain on the territory of our country. Also, over 11,000 people applied for asylum.

Photo: Government