Refugee situation – latest updates
Since the onset of the crisis until March 14, 2022, over 460,000 refugees from Ukraine entered Romania – most of them women and children (including 460 children from the Ukrainian social services); close to 80,000 remained in the country. During the past 24 hours 13,769 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania through the border points. Romania has 15 temporary transit centers with a total capacity of 3,886 persons and 588 refugee camps and centers coordinated by local public authorities or civil society with a total capacity of 28,384 persons.
Humanitarian assistance
A new humanitarian HUB – Logistical Storage and Distribution Centre – is operational in NE Romania (City of Suceava), with the support of the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. The hub integrates all international assistance and ensures coordination of aid delivery to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Two „Blue Dot” centers are functional (operated in partnership with UNICEF).
The Romanian Government launched a support platform with two main sections “Emergency Help” (supply of resources), and “A Roof” (for refugee accommodation management) – as a means for government institutions to coordinate with civil society and international organizations. A platform and general guide for refugees is also available – DOPOMOHA.RO – providing information in four languages: Ukrainian, Romanian, English, and Russian.
Charter flights for the transport of foreign nationals or stateless persons who come from areas of armed conflict in Ukraine to destinations out of Romania, with the consent of the destination state. Romania ensures necessary fuel and other resources for ships bound to Ukraine (the ports of Reni, Ismail, Chilia Noua) and the Republic of Moldova (Giurgiulesti). The Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta allows for the stationing of ships bound to Ukraine. A Green Lanes working group was instituted – European mobility corridors dedicated to all types of transport adapted to the situation in Ukraine.
Financial and material aid
The Romanian Government announced EUR 3.4 million aid for Ukraine consisting of fuel, bulletproof vests, combat helmets, ammunition and military equipment, food, water, and medicines – these include 2.000 full bulletproof vests, 2.000 ballistic helmets, 3 tons of medicines, medical equipment and first aid supplies.
Health
Blood donation campaign for Ukraine “Blood for Ukraine” in all blood transfusion centers in the country. As of March 14, Romania has a total of 3,072 hospital beds available for treating those wounded in Ukraine.
Education and Employment
There are 45 schools and 10 high-school units in eight Romanian cities providing classes in the Ukrainian language. Three Romanian universities offer courses in Ukrainian. Ukrainian students arriving in Romania are able to enroll upon request in pre-university education units. Refugee students from Ukraine can enroll in Romanian universities without a degree, with the possibility of bringing their study documents and diplomas until the end of their studies. They also have the right to free accommodation in boarding schools, food allowance and supplies.
Romania facilitates the employment of Ukrainian citizens who come from the armed conflict zone in Ukraine (documents proving the professional qualification or work experience are not required).
Regional and International cooperation
Romania contributed EUR 100.000 to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is coordinating with a series of governmental and non-governmental representatives from EU countries including Germany (THW – Federal Agency for Technical Relief, Ministry of the Interior and Community), Spain (SAMU foundation), Croatia (Civil Protection Directorate, Ministry of Interior), while also facilitating aid transports from Austria, Italy, Turkey, India.
Diplomatic and political efforts
Romania has joined a group of 44 OSCE participating states in activating the Moscow OSCE Mechanism to assess the impact on human rights and the humanitarian situation caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Romania also supported evacuation requests for citizens of more than 90 countries and facilitated the evacuation of more than 20 foreign diplomatic missions out of Ukraine, as well as OSCE personnel.
Fight against fake news and cybersecurity
Romania’s National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) in partnership with cyber company Bitdefender will provide technical advice, threat information and cyber security technology to any business, government institution or citizen of Ukraine, free of charge, for as long as necessary. They will also provide free cybersecurity technologies produced by Bitdefender, for one year, to any company or public entity part of NATO or the EU.
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