Moldova

HI started operations in Moldova in March 2022 when thousands of displaced Ukrainian people fled their country to safety following the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and is currently implemented activities aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable conflict-affected refugee and host populations.

On the right, Carolina from HI and on the left, a beneficiary painting pictures during a psychosocial support group meeting (MHPSS).

On the right, Carolina from HI, during a psychosocial support group meeting (MHPSS), des activités comme la peinture sur des planches ou sur des sacs en toile y sont proposées. | © HI

Our actions

HI delivers an inclusive humanitarian response, focused on Inclusive Humanitarian Action, with the objective to foster a tailored and disability- inclusive humanitarian response, focusing on empowering and building the capacity of national organizations of persons with disability, centred on a barriers analysis and on accessibility works.

In 2022 and early 2023, HI also led a mental health and psychosocial support, and protection response, with the objective to increase the protective environment of conflict-affected populations and host communities and improving access to quality mental health and psychosocial support services. Capacity building for caregivers, and group and individual sessions have been conducted by MHPSS workers and Social Workers, in addition to donations aimed at improving the living conditions in the centres, such as heating, stationary for children, etc.

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Background

In March 2022, following the beginning of a large-scale military conflict between Russia and Ukraine on February 24th, HI deployed its emergency response team in where many displaced persons fled to safety.

Indeed, the conflict in Ukraine triggered a political and humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions in Europe. Approximately 6.3 million Ukrainians left their country. The main host countries are neighbouring countries such as Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova. Moldova received up to 750,000 refugees at the high of displaced, with more than 100,000 remaining in country in April 2023. Moldova received more refugees per capita than any other country, which placed a vast burden on a country of only 3 million people, having the lowest development index (HDI) in Europe.

Since the beginning of this crisis, the Moldovan society quickly mobilized to coordinate the arrival of the refugees and ensure their effective care, notably with the opening of dozen pf accredited reception centres (RACs). However, the scale and uncertain outlook of the current crisis, and the potential new refugee influx from the continued deterioration of the security context in Ukraine places Moldova at risk of further economic and social shocks. As such, relationships between Ukrainians and Moldovans are declining, as there is a general perception in country that refugees are receiving more than Moldovans, in addition to language and cultural differences that strain relations.