March 25, 2022 - UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, UN World Food Program (WFP) and the Government of the Republic of Moldova announce that funds will soon be provided to both Ukrainian refugees and their host families in the Republic of Moldova . . This action follows an initial small-scale distribution of funds by UNHCR, which took place in February recently.

The funds will be distributed electronically, using a prepaid bank card scheme, created in collaboration with maib, the largest bank in the Republic of Moldova. Local partners of UNHCR - CRS and Caritas Moldova ensure the registration of beneficiaries, using the innovative PRIMES system to collect biodata, in accordance with government practice. This activity will ensure that funds are distributed efficiently and without being doubled.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilița, stated that: “Refugees arrive in the Republic of Moldova wearing only some clothes and possessing objects to help them transport. It is important that UNHCR and other humanitarian resources provide the means to help them meet their immediate needs. We appreciate the provision of similar support to vulnerable families in the Republic of Moldova, who have generously opened their refugee homes. "

The representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Moldova, Francesca Bonelli, said: “The government and people of the Republic of Moldova have shown extraordinary solidarity, receiving an unprecedented number of refugees in their country and in their homes in recent weeks. When people are forced to leave their homes, they leave with the bare necessities, losing the ability to earn and spend in the process. Providing immediate financial assistance to refugees and their hosts in the Republic of Moldova is an absolute priority. ”

The Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, Marcel Spatari, stated: “Our borders remain open to all those who need access to our territory, but considerable support must reach, and continue to, those who need it. ”.

The head of the WFP Office in the Republic of Moldova, Cesar Arroyo, explained that “providing money is an ideal way for affected families to buy what they need when they need it. There is also a positive side impact when money is spent in stores in the Republic of Moldova, supporting the local economy. "

The provision of financial assistance is a collaborative effort, led by the Government and supported by UNHCR, WFP, IOM, UNICEF, NGOs and other actors.

UNHCR provides financial support to people from many countries who are hosting refugees around the world. Such support provides the dignity to choose in the process of meeting needs, while facilitating inclusion and stimulating local economies. It is currently being carried out in several countries hosting refugees from Ukraine. The distribution of funds is also closely aligned with the objectives of the Global Compact for Refugees in terms of reducing pressure on host communities and increasing the independence of refugees.

WFP provides financial support to enable families to meet their basic needs in local markets, while helping to stimulate those markets. In 2021, WFP transferred $ 2.3 billion in purchasing power to 41.8 million people in 69 countries. Where markets and financial sectors operate, as is the case in the Republic of Moldova, remittances can be an effective way to achieve results in food security and nutrition.

Source https://www.unhcr.org/md/