Weekly Update #6
April 1-6
April 1-6
OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SITUATION
SOURCE: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine
Date: 1 April 2022
Refugees fleeing Ukraine (since 24 February 2022)*
4,137,842
Last updated 01 Apr 2022
Data is updated daily by 12:00 CET.
*Arrival statistics are compiled from a variety of sources, mainly data provided by authorities from official border crossing points. While every effort has been made to ensure that all statistical information is verified, figures on some arrivals represent an estimate. Triangulation of information and sources is performed on a continuous basis. Therefore, amendments in figures may occur, including retroactively. Notably, the right to move freely within the Schengen area means there are very few border controls within the European Union. The data of arrivals in Schengen countries (Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) bordering Ukraine therefore only represents border crossings into that country, but we estimate that a large number of people have moved onwards to other countries. In addition, UNHCR does not count individuals from bordering countries leaving Ukraine to return home.
Among those who fled Ukraine are also Ukrainian nationals with dual citizenship.
An additional 113,000 people moved to the Russian Federation from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions between 21 and 23 February.
Total Refugee influx from Ukraine in neighboring countries
Country Population
Belarus - 12,746
Hungary - 379,988
Poland - 2,405,703
Republic of Moldova - 391,592
Romania - 629,917
Russian Federation - 350,632
Slovakia - 294,885
https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine
Distribution of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Ukraine and neighbouring countries as of 30 March 2022 (WHO Emergency in Ukraine)
THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
SOURCES: OCHA Humanitarian Impact Situation Report, 1 April 2022
UNHCR Ukraine Situation Flash Update No. 6, 30 March 2022
2022 Protection Cluster Snapshot, 17-24 March 2022
As of 31 March, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports 3,257 civilian casualties. In Donetska and Luhanska oblasts in the east, civilian casualties are highest in Government-controlled areas (GCA), with OHCHR reporting 1,130 casualties – including 358 killed and 772 injured – compared to 313 civilian casualties in the non-Government-controlled areas (NGCA) of these oblasts (67 killed and 246 injured). In the rest of Ukraine, OHCHR reports 1,814 civilian casualties. In just over five weeks, the ongoing military offensive has claimed the equivalent of more than 60 per cent of the lives lost in 2014 – the fiercest year of fighting in eastern Ukraine – when more than 2,080 civilians were killed. (OCHA)
The situation in both Mariupol and Chernihiv remains dire. Some 90 per cent of Mariupol’s residential buildings have been affected by active fighting, with some 40 per cent completely decimated. An estimated 300 people were killed in the 16 March shelling of a theatre in the city. (OCHA)
Main areas of conflict continue to be in the northeast, southeast, and eastern parts of the country, particularly Kyiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Private houses, multistory building, and medical facilities had been destroyed on a massive scale. OHCHR highlighted that the extent of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian objects showed that the principles of distinction and proportionality were not respected. (OCHA)
Despite continuous shelling, some evacuations have been undertaken. More than 1,400 people were evacuated from Luhansk Oblast from 24-27 March. A second safe passage operation facilitated by the ICRC and Red Cross Ukraine was completed - over 30 buses with around 1,000 people left Sumy on 18 March (UNHCR).
Indiscriminate airstrikes hitting civilians and civilian. infrastructure continue. Between 24 February and 30 March, according to WHO, a total of 82 attacks1on health care have been reported, resulting in 43 injuries and 72 deaths.2 Further attacks are being verified (WHO). The Ukraine Ministry for Education and Science reported that some 550 education facilities had been damaged or destroyed. (UNHCR)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says investigators are looking into at least two dozen credible reports that the Russian Federation forces have used cluster munitions in densely populated areas of Ukraine, adding that indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure may amount to war crimes. According to Human Rights Watch, banned antipersonnel mines have been used in Kharkivska oblast. Ukrainian explosive ordnance disposal technicians discovered extremely dangerous POM-3 mines, which eject explosive charges within 16-meter radius. (OCHA).
Millions of women are now on the move, many of them alone, potentially displaced multiple times in search of safety and security. At the same time that women face growing risks and needs, access to critical gender-responsive health and protection services continue to be interrupted. (UNHCR)
The main protection information needs identified related to crossing procedures, how to apply for asylum, documentation required for crossing with private vehicles, validity of driving licenses in third countries, amount of cash authorized to carry; use of Ukrainian bank cards abroad – including how to access payment of pensions. (OCHA)
Human trafficking and smuggling were raised by partners in Ukraine as growing protection concerns - although no concrete cases of human trafficking were identified so far within the territory of Ukraine. IOM developed a package of materials on the prevention of human trafficking that will be shared by the Border Guards. Partners report cases of men (particularly of 18-60 years old) resorting to smugglers to take them through irregular international border crossing points, due to presence of checkpoints where military conscription documents are reportedly granted while travelling on the main roads leading to regular border crossing points. (OCHA)
THE UN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
SOURCES: OCHA, Ukraine Impact Situation Report, 1 April 2022
UNHCR, Ukraine Situation Flash Update No.6, 30 March 2022
WHO External Situation Report, 24-30 March 2022
IOM Regional Ukraine Response, 30-31 March 2022
WFP Ukraine and Neighboring Countries External Situation Report #10, 2 April 2022
The UN partners are intensifying their responses as the war continues to rage and affect increasing numbers of Ukarianian and third-party nationals. Their interventions cover the wide range of services.
HIGHLIGHTS
OCHA SUMMARY
As of 31 March, UN agencies and humanitarian partners have reached more than 1.4 million people with critical multi-sectoral assistance, with some of the worst-affected areas receiving much-needed aid. UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to rapidly scale-up response efforts to match the need across Ukraine. As of 31 March, there are nearly 160 partners with planned or ongoing projects across Ukraine, half of them being national NGOs.
Nearly 510,000 people have been reached in Kharkivska oblast, while more than 245,000 have received assistance in Kyivska oblast. In Lvivska oblast – where hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people have sought refuge – more than 166,300 people have been reached by UN agencies and humanitarian partners.
On 31 March, a third UN-organized humanitarian convoy delivered supplies for thousands of people in the encircled city of Sumy (Sumska oblast), where active hostilities have prevented deliveries of food and other goods. The humanitarian notification system with Ukraine and the Russian Federation facilitated by OCHA enabled safe passage of the convoy.
International NGO (INGO) People in Need (PIN), UNHCR, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) safely delivered relief supplies that will be distributed to the hardest-hit communities in Sumy and hard-to-reach areas in the north-east, including Trostianets and Okhtyrka, by the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS).
The food rations from PIN and WFP will benefit nearly 6,000 people; blankets, kettles and other basic household items from UNHCR will support 1,500 people, while the sanitation kits will help 6,000 people with hygiene and drinking water. The WHO medical supplies and trauma kits will treat 150 patients requiring intensive care for serious injuries, while the other medical supplies will support 10,000 people for three months.
Strengthening protection
UNHCR
The UN High Commissioner for Refugee Filippo Grandi appealed in the strongest terms for an end to the war, while calling on the international community to provide sustained support to the millions of civilians impacted by the fighting. With local authorities and community representatives, Grandi visited on 31 March 2022 a reception centre for internally displaced people that was established and run by the authorities with UNHCR support. UNHCR is expanding the capacity and improving the living conditions of reception centres so that they may host more internally displaced Ukrainians in need of shelter.
UNHCR and its local NGO partners Right to Protection, NEEKA and Tenth of April launched a Border Monitoring Tool in 17 border points with Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia, aimed at identifying protection risks, availability and accessibility of critical services and facilities at border points, and to assess which information people need to cross border points legally and safely, and access protection in neighboring or other countries. Provision of information remains key to ensuring refugees are able to access services, make informed decisions, and actively participate in the response.
Access to information and targeted support for vulnerable displaced persons is a key priority. To date, more than 22,500 people have received targeted protection assistance, including at border points, in transit, at registration and reception centres and in other places such as train stations, while more than 8,000 people received counselling and information through hotlines.
In coordination with the national authorities, UNHCR continues to carry out needs assessments in transit and reception centres to provide targeted support to increase the reception capacity for IDPs. 73 centres have been newly equipped with essential items to enhance capacity.
With significant protection risks identified in border areas, the Protection Cluster is developing a Protection Response Strategy for border areas. UNHCR and local partners have also launched a Border Monitoring Tool in 17 border crossing points with Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to helpidentify risks and critical protection information needs, as well as assess the availability and accessibility of services.
In the context of the European Union (EU) Solidarity Platform, seven EU Member States including Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands and Spain, as well as Norway have pledged to welcome 14,500 people transiting Moldova so far. Out of the pledges made so far, 519 people have been transferred to Austria, Germany and Lithuania from Moldova. UNHCR assisted some 450 of these people to depart to Austria and Germany through vulnerability screenings. UNHCR is also training partners in conducting vulnerability screenings.
UNHCR, UNICEF and partners are preparing to launch Blue Dots hubs in Hungary. Eight locations have currently been identified at information points and at train stations.
In the context of the European Union (EU) Solidarity Platform, seven EU Member States including Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands and Spain, as well as Norway have pledged to welcome 14,500 people transiting Moldova so far.
IOM
In Ukraine, IOM manages regional hotlines to ensure the safety of individuals on the move. From 24 February to 30 March, the National Toll-Free Counter-Trafficking and Migrant Advice Hotline “527” provided 20,779 consultations in response to 4,400 calls received. About 62 per cent of the calls were placed by internally displaced persons, with 40 per cent being men and 60 per cent being women. To supplement the hotline, IOM Ukraine has distributed over 165,000 leaflets on counter trafficking, mental health and psychosocial support services, and the temporary protection directive in 12 regions of Ukraine and at border crossing points since the start of war.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has set up information and support hotlines for persons in Ukraine and fleeing Ukraine in different countries.
IOM hotline numbers and support contacts per country (Гарячі лінії МОМ та контакти підтримки по країнах):
Ukraine: 527 (free from mobile phones), 0800505501 (free from landline phones); as well as 527 website.
Poland: +48 22 490 20 44
Romania: Online support platform dopomoha.ro
Lithuania: +370 525 14352 is run by IOM's Migration Information Centre, also available through live chat on this website.
Slovakia: From abroad 00421 5263 0023, locally 0850 211 478; Telegram/Signal: 00421 908 767 853 (voice only); Web: https://www.mic.iom.sk/en/.
Moldova: Bureau of Migration and Asylum (BMA): 080001527 (free from Moldova) and +37322820007 (from abroad); La Strada Anti-trafficking and Safe Migration: 080077777 (free from Moldova) and +37322233309 (from abroad).
Increasing food security
IOM
International Organization for Migration (IOM) has received a shipment of 20,000 high-energy biscuits at its warehouse in Lviv (Lvivska oblast) and will send the stock to eastern Ukraine for distribution to those most in need, primarily targeting children and pregnant/lactating mothers, in coordination with Save the Children. IOM is also providing targeted food assistance to certain isolated areas in Luhanska and Donetska oblasts, including Kreminna and Novoluhanske.
In Donetska oblast, IOM, together with NGO Donbas Development Centre (DDC), is delivering 100 food parcels to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 1,500 instant food kits to temporary accommodation centres.
WFP
WFP continues to build up its food stocks inside Ukraine, reaching close to 40,000 mt of bulk food, wheat flour and food rations, mostly sourced locally inside Ukraine and regionally from Turkey.
Timely and sustained passage of humanitarian cargo is a necessary prerequisite for effective humanitarian response. The Government of Poland has facilitated dedicated lanes at border crossings (where feasible) and special customs clearance processes in support of the humanitarian response efforts in Ukraine.
WFP dispatched 25 mt of food benefitting around 6,000 conflict-affected people with the third interagency convoy reaching Sumy safely on 31 March.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ukraine is facilitating both efficient clearance for the entry of food commodities and timely border crossings on return journeys to Poland, thereby supporting the necessary pace and frequency of humanitarian operations.
Following the success of three humanitarian convoys to date, WFP and partners are aiming for two inter-agency convoys per week going forward, initially prioritizing Mariupol and Sievierodonetsk to assist.
Providing shelter
IOM
In Ukraine, IOM is continuing with the distribution of in-kind assistance to IDPs residing in temporary shelters in Ukraine. The mission distributed 8,800 hygiene kits in Zaporizzhya, Zakarpattia and Dnipro regions, with an additional delivery to be organized in Chernihiv. Distribution of the USAID-BHA consignment continues, with an additional 7,000 thermal blankets distributed in Zakarpattia, Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Mykolaivska, Khmelnitska and Dnipropetrovska oblasts, totalling 18,375 blankets distributed since the start of the war.
UNHCR
More than 11, 860 more people received emergency shelter assistance including emergency shelter kits and repairs. This is particularly vital in the areas hardest hit by shelling, where people remain living in precarious conditions, without access to basic needs.
Cash Assistance
UNHCR
Since enrolment began in UNHCR’s programme for the distribution of multipurpose cash assistance in Lviv on 17 March, 8,913 individuals have been enrolled and the first payments initiated. The pace of registration is increasing daily with the aim to register 6,000 people per day by the end of the week. UNHCR is preparing for the rollout of the programme in Chernivtsi Oblast in the coming days. UNHCR aims to reach 360,000 people with multipurpose cash assistance in the first three months.
WFP
WFP in Moldova coordinated with the local government in disseminating information about their cash assistance program. Six partnerships agreements were concluded with ACTED, Catholic Relief Services, Solidarités International, Helvetas, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision International for the implementation of the cash assistance programme for host communities.
As chair of the Moldova Food security sub-working Group, WFP reached 12,303 refugees - through Cooperating Partners - with hot meals (three per day) in 100 centers across 32 different localities/regions. WFP coverage is growing exponentially countrywide and new agreements were signed with HelpAge and Solidarités International for the provision of hot meals in refugee accommodation centers.
There are many challenges to accessing health care, with active hostilities and a lack of public transport restricting movement. Close to 1000 health facilities are in proximity to conflict areas or are in changed areas of control, which leaves the health system vulnerable to infrastructural damage and severe disruptions in critical services. As a consequence, there is limited or no access to medicines, health facilities, and health-care workers in some areas.
Priority public health concerns reported by WHO include the following:
Conflict-related trauma and injuries:
Civilian casualties continue to be caused by the use of explosive weapons. Limited access to health care may increase the risk of wound infections and trauma-related deaths. Furthermore, given the previous high rates of over-the-counter antimicrobials and limited access to treatment, the potential for multidrug-resistant infections remains a big concern.
Maternal and newborn health:
Disruptions to antenatal care may increase the risk of obstetric and neonatal complications. There is also a reduced ability to manage obstetric complications, including performing procedures such as caesarean sections, and providing neonatal intensive care due to challenges in accessing health care, limited power and oxygen supply, and attacks on health-care centres, including maternity hospitals.
Food security and nutrition:
The large-scale population displacement, damage to agricultural infrastructure, disruption to markets and food supply chains are likely to have significant impacts on food security and nutrition. Ukraine has low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, with a high percentage of infants partially or fully dependent on infant formula. As the normal environment for accessing and hygienically preparing infant formula is disrupted, a priority for WHO is to support families to safely and appropriately feed their infants in these difficult times. WHO is also providing guidance on safe and appropriate complementary foods to be supplied to infants and children six-months-old and above as needed.
Risk of emergence and spread of infectious diseases:
Ongoing epidemics. The incidence of COVID-19 continues to decrease, with 18 814 new cases and 194 new deaths reported between 24 and 30 March. However, these numbers should be interpreted carefully, as from 23 February to 30 March, the seven-day average number of polymerase chain reaction tests and antigen-rapid diagnostic tests has dropped significantly, with a 96% (from 42 460 to 1577) and 88% (from 51 484 to 6100) decrease respectively, which suggests underreporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The vaccination uptake remains low, particularly in vulnerable populations, and the disruption in testing and treatment puts those most vulnerable at increased risk of severe illness and death.
Epidemic risk. Poor ventilation and overcrowding increase the risk of spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) heightens the risk of emergence of foodborne and waterborne diseases. According to OCHA, 1.4 million people across Ukraine do not have access to safe water. Of note, an outbreak of cholera was reported in 2011 in the Mariupol region, while a single case was reported in 2016 in the Zaporizhzhya oblast, highlighting the risk of cholera outbreaks.
An outbreak of acute diarrhoea and vomiting was reported at a refugee reception centre in Przemydisl, Poland, starting 23 March 2022. Investigations were started by an international aid organization and local_organization and local sanitary inspection authorities, with WHO coordination support. Many patients had been reporting to first aid stations and health points with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, including young children, teenagers and adults. Isolation facilities are available, but they are limited in size and most patients prefer to stay with their families. There were no reports of severe illness requiring hospitalization.
Suboptimal vaccination coverage for routine and childhood immunizations, including measles and poliomyelitis (polio), increases the risk of re-emergence and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Notably, two cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in Ukraine in 2021. On 1 February 2022 a national supplemental polio immunization campaign targeting nearly 140 000 children was launched, but due to the current situation it has been deprioritized and significantly slowed down.
With the arrival of spring and rising temperatures, disrupted access to WASH and damage to homes may increase the risk of vector-borne diseases such as West Nile fever and tick-borne encephalitis.
Management of chronic diseases:
The provision of medicines and care for patients with chronic communicable diseases such as HIV and TB and with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease, epilepsy and cancer, remains challenging. Interruptions in treatment for NCDs can result in life-threatening complications. Long-term disruption to treatment for HIV or TB may result in the development of drug resistance and poor disease outcomes. Based on the preliminary estimates by WHO, using UNHCR data, more than 30 000 refugees are living with HIV and will need antiretroviral treatment services. The burden of TB among the refugee population is high, particularly among older age groups. For example, using pre-crisis data for Ukraine, WHO estimates that there will be on average one case of active TB in:
2000 female displaced persons aged 15 years and above (estimated prevalence among girls and women aged 15 years and above is 0.05%);
5000 displaced persons aged 0–14 years (estimated prevalence among children aged 0–14 years is 0.02%); and
1600 male displaced persons aged 65 years and above (estimated prevalence among men aged 65 years and above is 0.06%).
Meeting the medical needs of people with long-term illnesses such as mental illness, renal disease, diabetes, and cancer in Ukraine and neighbouring countries is a key priority. Furthermore, outreach to older people in remote areas, who belong to the most vulnerable groups, and provision of basic commodities including water and food, and urgently needed medicines to continue treatment of chronic diseases, is hampered by security concerns and destruction of infrastructure.
Technological hazards and health risks:
There are 15 nuclear reactors at four operational nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Ukraine and a decommissioned Chernobyl NPP. There are concerns about the Zaporizhzhya NPP located in the vicinity of the military operations. The risk of a nuclear emergency as a result of direct damage due to shelling of NPPs or failure of a reactor’s power supply, or the inability to provide_maintenance, remains high, as underlined in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s daily updates.
In addition, seasonal forest fires in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are reported to be of concern, as regular firefighting services are not able to cope due to the actions of the occupation forces interfering with the normal operations of the Chernobyl facilities and services.
Ukraine is a country with many recently active and abandoned industrial and mining sites. The risk of collateral damage at chemical storage sites, including oil and fuel storage and leaks of hazardous industrial chemicals, is relatively high. Several fires at oil depots leading to air pollution with toxic chemicals and ammonia leaks at industrial sites (Sumy region) have been reported.
Mental health and psychosocial health:
As the conflict continues, the risk of development or exacerbation of mental health problems including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression increases.
Protection issues: risk of human trafficking and escalated risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV):
As people leave their homes to flee the conflict, there is a risk of human trafficking. There are numerous children and young women travelling unaccompanied to countries receiving refugees, who are at particular risk. The risk of SGBV increases during periods of conflict as a result of insecurity and absence of law. Most of those fleeing Ukraine are women and children, often travelling alone and therefore particularly vulnerable. Lack of access to contraception and heightened threat of SGBV increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
WHO
In collaboration with UNHCR, OCHA and other partners, WHO is in the process of establishing a logistics hub in the city of Dnipro (Dnipropetrovska oblast) to facilitate the delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian assistance to areas in eastern Ukraine most severely affected by ongoing hostilities On 1 April, WHO delivered 300 immunoglobulin vials to Lviv to treat up to 150 severe cases of diphtheria.
WFP
Moreover, WFP is fully involved in discussions on the specific needs of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), also a potentially vulnerable group due to the interplay of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and food. WFP is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to determine the required level of support.
There is growing concern over the situation of older people inside Ukraine, as they have a specific vulnerabilities and food requirements. Estimates indicate that the majority of the elderly are not leaving their homes or facilities, choosing to or compelled instead to shelter in place.
FAITH AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
SOURCE: CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS
(https://www.caritas.org/what-we-do/conflicts-and-disasters/crisis-in-ukraine/)
So far, Caritas has provided humanitarian assistance to several hundred thousand people only in Ukraine, with more than 23,500 meals and 5,100 personal hygiene kits distributed every day. All Caritas organisations in neighbouring countries – including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova – are at the frontline in assisting the millions of refugees fleeing the war, supported by other members of the Caritas Confederation.
Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes are already serving thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are desperately searching for a safe shelter, both in western Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries . Since February 24, approximately 64 local Caritas centers and multiple parish communities have been actively responding to the current Humanitarian Crisis. The two Caritas organisations are providing Internally-displaced people on the move with essential information, food, drinking water and personal hygiene kits, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep, eat and wash themselves. Caritas staff and volunteers also provide safe transport for displaced families to reach their loved ones.
Vital support is provided especially to women and children. Caritas-Spes runs 22 small family homes throughout Ukraine and is providing safe transportation to its centres in western Ukraine for the children in their facilities and State centres in the eastern areas. Ukraine has one of the largest numbers of children in institutions in the world. Despite nearly 82% of thousands of children living in the State institutions having parents, at this moment, with the State focused on security issues, they have no one ensuring their own protection. Caritas Ukraine is also organising Child-Friendly Spaces where young children can engage in sports and recreational activities as a means of helping them cope with the psychological stress caused by the conflict.
Since the war began, our Caritas organizations have provided:
4245 shelters
23,312 meals
5,107 hygiene kits
768 medications
In Ukraine, 30 local Caritas Ukraine centres and 34 Caritas Spes centres as well as multiple parish communities have been actively assisting internally displaced persons since the start of the war. The staff of Caritas Mariupol, evacuated to Zaporizhzhia, is working hard to support internally displaced persons arriving from Mariupol. Caritas Spes continues to provide support to those in need in areas currently under Russian occupation.
In parallel, the Caritas organizations in Ukraine’s neighboring countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova welcome and aid Ukrainians and Ukrainian residents fleeing the fighting. For example, in Slovakia, Caritas steps up their awareness raising on the risk of human trafficking, in parallel to providing humanitarian support to refugees arriving from Ukraine.
The work of Caritas Moldova is shown below:
SOURCE: JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE
(https://jrs.net/en/news/christian-group-recommendations-for-an-eu-welcome-to-refugees-from-ukraine/)NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS
Recommendations for Catholic NGOs
on preventing and counteracting human trafficking
In the ongoing context of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, people are often forced to leave their homes with little or no preparation and travel along dangerous paths in search of safe haven. While undertaking challenging journeys or upon reaching a destination, migrants from Ukraine can be exposed to trafficking and exploitation.
In order to prevent properly the risks of human trafficking and to assist the presumed victims the Catholic Organizations operating at the border are warmly invited to consider the following recommendations:
Prevention of trafficking and immediate assistance:
Check every offer: verify the identity of the individuals and organisations that offer transport, shelter and other services: ask them for a copy of their documents and car plates;
Disseminate the information as broadly as possible, both on and offline, taking into account the means for people seeking refuge to access the information. Collocate banners and posters at the crossings and distribute the leaflets, advising displaced people to:
Always keep your passport with you, showing it only when border guards ask you to do so at the border;
When you need help, seek out volunteers that carry a badge from their organisation;
Be suspicious of anyone offering help and do not get into the cars of people you do not know alone. If you must, take a photo of the licence plate and share it with someone you trust;
Accept hospitality and job offers only through well-known volunteer organisations or trusted sources. Pay particular attention to the advertisements and job offers online, beware of particularly attractive ones;
Always keep your phone battery charged and send your location to people you trust;
In case of suspicious activities, inform the border guards, humanitarian aid workers, or volunteers;
Inform migrants of the risks of human trafficking, including “too good to be true” transportation, housing and job offers along migration routes as well as in the vicinity of the reception facilities and online;
Together with the law enforcement authorities to strengthen child protection screenings at the border points, especially those with Ukraine, to better identify at-risk children;
Improve cross-border collaboration and data exchange between NGOs, border control, law enforcement and child protection authorities in order to quickly identify and protect separated and unaccompanied children;
Encourage and facilitate authorities to implement family tracing and reunification procedures for children, deprived of parental care;
Implement additional risk screening in reception centres, shelters, train stations, and other locations where migrants are gathering or passing through;
Encourage and help national and international law enforcement to monitor the movement of unaccompanied and separated minors and particularly vulnerable women;
Report the cases of presumed recruitment for trafficking and exploitation to authorities, collaborate in the identification of offerers and actively mitigate the risks facing vulnerable groups;
Mid-term assistance:
Provide information on opportunities across communities and countries to enable people seeking refuge to make well-informed decisions on their travel or stay as well as to respond to the needs of the host communities;
Exchange and provide information to communities and individuals who temporarily host migrants on available assistance and housing opportunities;
Endorse law enforcement in monitoring information platforms (both online and printed) for misleading or deceptive information on housing and employment opportunities to prevent trafficking and fraud;
Ensure when possible psychological support by engaging with qualified psychologists, educators and other service providers among migrants themselves and leveraging their professional competency and language skills;
Establish contacts and regular exchange with structured Ukrainian communities (parishes, associations, schools, etc) in countries of transit or destination to align assistance and support efforts and leverage their language and other skills;
Distribute information about reception facilities at the Ukrainian border, within and across countries to avoid overburdening assistance and support systems, which can create additional vulnerabilities;
Mindful that the majority of Ukrainian migrants are women, boys and girls, monitor locations known for high risks of human trafficking, including those related to the provision of sexual services—including online—street begging and informal sectors of the economy;
Inform migrants about the anti-trafficking hotlines, including in Ukrainian, and broadly publicise the hotline numbers through means accessible to them, encouraging them to contact the hotline in case of possible questions or suspicions.*
Long term assistance and integration:
Facilitate the establishment of clear procedures for the request of humanitarian protection - both temporary (EU) and international HP - and rapid exchange of information on people seeking refuge registered in the transit and destination countries and their place of residence in order to prevent people, especially children, from going missing and reduce their vulnerability to trafficking;
Facilitate the provision of language courses for adults and children seeking refuge in destination countries;
Endorse the establishment of the procedures to validate the professional competency of migrants based on the diplomas and certificates issued by Ukrainian educational institutions;
Provide training opportunities for migrants to prepare them for the local labour market, taking into consideration their education and work experience, to benefit from their skills and knowledge;
Support employment and integration of people seeking refuge in the formal labour market:
provide guidance on the employment procedures, benefits and other obligatory clauses translated into Ukrainian;
hiring Ukrainian-speaking people to assist employment centres for providing consultations to migrants;
identify businesses looking for employees and promote a verified list of employers for Ukrainians seeking employment.
Promote inclusive and accessible schooling and pre-school care for children in destination countries to facilitate their access to education and allow their parents and guardians to engage in sustainable employment.
*Anti-trafficking hotlines:
Ukraine:
● Ukrainian National Migrant Advice and Counter-Trafficking Hotline 527 can be accessed only from within Ukraine.
● 116 123 - Ukrainian National Government Hotline for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Gender Discrimination
● Information service of the IAHU:
➢ Ukrainian version: https://dopomoha.org.ua/torgivlya-lyudmy-yak-ne-potrapyty-v-pastku/
➢ English version: https://dopomoha.org.ua/en/human-trafficking-how-not-to-fall-into-the-trap/
➢ Hotline +380973183479
Bordering countries :
Hungary: 06-80/20-55-20 (hotline for victims of domestic violence or trafficking, available 24/7). Abroad: +36 80/20-55-20
Moldova 0 800 77777 (calls from Moldova), +373 22 23 33 09 (calls from abroad)
Poland Helpline +48 22 628 99 99; National Intervention and Consultation Centre for Victims of Trafficking: +48 22 628 01 20
Romania: Hotline against trafficking 0800 800 678
Slovakia (Ukrainian Citizens Hotline) +421 918 366 968; Slovak Crisis Center “Dotyk”: +421 903 704 784
Other European countries:
Austria: IBF - Intervention Centre for Victims of Trafficking (women) +43 1-796 92 98
Belgium: PAG-ASA: +32 2 511 64 64; Payoke +32 3 201 16 90
Bulgaria: National Hotline for Victims of Violence: 0800 186 76; National Hotline for Children: 116 111
Czech Republic: +420 222 721 810, +420 222 717 171, 8 000 777 77
Estonia: Human Trafficking Prevention and Victim Help Hotline: +372 6607 320
Finland: System for victim assistance: +358 71 876 3170
France: National Coordination for protection of victims of human trafficking hotline (Ac. Sé): 0 825 009 907
Germany: NGO Network against HT
● Help hotline Violence against women: 08000 116 016
● Sexual Abuse Help Line: 0800 22 55 530
● Help hotline for pregnant women in distress: 0800 40 40 020
Greece:
● National Line for child protection: 1107; Direct Social Aid Line: 197
● General Secretariat for Gender Equality SOS helpline: 15900
● Human Trafficking Resource Line (operated by Α21 Campaign): 1109, for international calls: 0030-2310-019880
Ireland: Hotline for the confidential reporting of suspicions of trafficking: 1800 25 00 25
Italy: 800 290 290 (landline); +39 342 775 49 46 (mobile)
Latvia: Hotline against trafficking: 800 020 12
Lithuania: Klaipedasocial and psychological services centre: 8 800 66366
Luxembourg: Police Grand-Ducale: +352 4997 6210, out of hours contact: Centre d'Intervention National: +352 4997 2341
Malta: Vice and Economic Crime, Police General Headquarters +356 2294 20 00
Netherlands: CoMensha (in Dutch): +31 33 4481186
Portugal: Hotline against trafficking: 800 202 148; SOS Imigrante, the hotline for all migrant situations 808 257 257
Slovenia: Kljuc - Key, Centre for the fight against human trafficking: 080 17 22
Spain: Institut de la Femme 900 191 010, 900 152 152
Sweden: National Support line for women: 020 50 50 50; Terrafem, NGO helpline for immigrant women: 020 52 10 10
United Kingdom: National Slavery Helpline: 08000 121 700
PRAYER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Basilica of St Paul in Rabat
Sunday, 3 April 2022
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/prayers/documents/20220403-malta-grotta-sanpaolo.htmlPrayer of His Holiness Pope Francis at the Conclusion of the Meeting with Migrants
Sunday 03 April 2022
Link: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/april/documents/20220403-malta-migranti.html