UKRAINE RESPONSE
SUPPORTING UKRAINIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES IN MOLDOVA & ROMANIA
More than 8 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine after the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. Thousands have taken refuge in Romania and Moldova.
We are supporting families here with essential food supplies, and providing safe spaces where they can build community, gather for activities, take language classes and learn online.
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When we spoke with Iryna she felt tired, she hadn’t slept as she knew her home city of Zaporizhzhya had been under attack the night before.
“I still want to go home” says Iryna, “I wait for it everyday”. Iryna is a marketing professional who fled Ukraine with her nine year old daughter and her parents last February, when the Russian attacks made it too dangerous to stay any longer. She's now living in Romania and has some freelance work for a local marketing company. She said it took her a while to accept that she would need to try and make something of her life in Romania. |
Her family attend the Day Centre we support in Iasi and her daughter loves the activities. Her father is learning Romanian at the centre and Iryna told us how much impact this has had on him. She said: “Many older people are scared of going out as they don’t know the language. My dad can now go to the shops and do errands around the city. It has given him his confidence back.”
WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP
Together with local partners, Children on the Edge are working to provide vital services for Ukrainian refugee families, in safe spaces, with trained professionals.
We have a long history of working in the region, it's where we began in 1990 and worked until 2012 with local partners. We have been supporting them since the crisis began, responding to the needs of refugees on the ground and they have evolved.
We have a long history of working in the region, it's where we began in 1990 and worked until 2012 with local partners. We have been supporting them since the crisis began, responding to the needs of refugees on the ground and they have evolved.
ESSENTIAL SHELTER AND FOODProviding accommodation, essential
food supplies and hygiene kits. |
COMMUNITY HUBHelping refugee children and
families access support, activities and language classes. |
SAFETY AND SECURITYHelping the most vulnerable refugee children recover from trauma.
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English language classes are offered in the new Community Hub in Iasi, Romania
In the initial stages of the crisis, most refugees transited through Moldova and Romania and our services focused on supporting refugees for a short period before they moved on. They expected to take refuge for a few weeks, but weeks became months and the conflict is no closer to a conclusion and refugees are no closer to getting home.
People remain disorientated in countries where they don’t speak the language and have no means of continuing their lives. Causing over 18,000 civilian casualties within a year, the war has caused serious trauma and unspeakable loss.
These refugee families still need our help. They need more than emergency food parcels and medicine for survival, they now need quality support, connection and agency.
People remain disorientated in countries where they don’t speak the language and have no means of continuing their lives. Causing over 18,000 civilian casualties within a year, the war has caused serious trauma and unspeakable loss.
These refugee families still need our help. They need more than emergency food parcels and medicine for survival, they now need quality support, connection and agency.
WORKING ON 'THE EDGE' IN MOLDOVA AND ROMANIA
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WHAT WE ARE DOING IN ROMANIA
In Romania, we are working with local partners, ADO. We initially set up a dedicated, flexible emergency fund so our partners could respond to the needs of the most marginalised refugees as they emerged, including those crossing the border at Siret.
We are now focused on supporting work around the city of Iasi in three main areas. A food distribution centre is open for refugees in the city where they can receive essential supplies and hygiene kits. A community hub is available for refugees to socialise, take part in activities and offer each other support. We are supporting 42 children from an orphanage in Ukraine who fled to Iasi after they were bombed.
We are now focused on supporting work around the city of Iasi in three main areas. A food distribution centre is open for refugees in the city where they can receive essential supplies and hygiene kits. A community hub is available for refugees to socialise, take part in activities and offer each other support. We are supporting 42 children from an orphanage in Ukraine who fled to Iasi after they were bombed.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
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The food distribution centre provides food and basic supplies, including hygiene products to hundreds of refugees. The centre has over 1,800 Ukrainian refugee contacts that use the service, each representing an average family of four. The centre hands out 200 food parcels each week containing things like pasta, bread tinned food, eggs, and sanitary products, nappies and formula each week to support refugee families. It is one of the only sources of regular food now wider support has waned. |
Refugees queuing at the food distribution centre
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COMMUNITY HUB
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A new community hub which opened in January 2023 provides a bight and safe and socialising space for refugee families in central Iasi. Refugees can use the centre every day to take part in activities like painting, yoga, chess and dance classes, as well as help each other find jobs and provide general support. Children can attend the centre to do their online schooling together, rather than isolated at home. The space has been donated and will be run by refugee volunteers. We have been able to provide furniture and other necessities to make the space useful and welcoming. |
Children learning together at the community hub
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IASI ORPHANAGE
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We are supporting over 40 children from Ukraine without parental care who arrived in to the Iasi region after their group home was bombed. Our partners have been working with the Child Protection Department in Romania to house these children, along with their carers in a centre in Iasi.
We have refurbished parts of the building, including an activity room with new floors and windows as well as equipment. The children take part in activities and receive Romanian language lessons to help them integrate in the local schools. We are providing a social worker and psychologist to ensure the children can access the right support. The children attend group therapy and play therapy and we are beginning to see positive changes. Children on the Edge have significant experience in working with children without parental care in Romania. |
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WHAT WE ARE DOING IN MOLDOVA
Initially the crisis in Moldova saw most refugees transit through the country into Europe where we were supporting three transit centres; on the border in Tudora, in the capital Chișinău, and north of the city in Vatici.
The situation has evolved as the crisis continues and we are seeing fewer refugees settling in the country on a long term basis. There have been issues with electricity supplies, leading to mass power cuts; and many refugees do not feel safe here, so are moving onwards in Romania and other European countries.
The centre in Tudora is now being used for long term accommodation by two families and our focus is on supporting the larger centres in Chișinău and Vatici through our partners, Speranta.
The situation has evolved as the crisis continues and we are seeing fewer refugees settling in the country on a long term basis. There have been issues with electricity supplies, leading to mass power cuts; and many refugees do not feel safe here, so are moving onwards in Romania and other European countries.
The centre in Tudora is now being used for long term accommodation by two families and our focus is on supporting the larger centres in Chișinău and Vatici through our partners, Speranta.
CHISINAU
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The Speranta centre that we are supporting in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital, is still providing accommodation for refugees who are in transit. The centre hosts around 10-20 people at a time, who are generally staying for 1-2 weeks before moving on into Europe. The centre welcomes those people who are unable to find accommodation at other refugee centres; and specialises in supporting people with disabilities or additional needs. |
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VATICI
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The Vatici centre is supporting around 50 refugees on a long term basis and offers a safe and welcoming space for families to recover from their trauma.
Initially those staying here would sleep in their clothes with the light on for fear of having to flee again; but now they are able to relax more and engage in daily life. Refugees are being supported by a social worker and psychologist, and are working together in peer groups to work through trauma. Many refugees are helping with the ongoing running of the centre, including cooking and cleaning and even caring for the onsite bee hives. This is helping build daily routine and normalcy. |
CAN YOUR BUSINESS SUPPORT US?
Is your company looking for a way to support refugees in the wake of the devastating conflict in Ukraine?
We are grateful for the generous support from some brilliant businesses across the UK who are fundraising for our Ukraine Crisis Appeal through their sales. You can join them and make a a positive difference, whatever your size.
Work for Good helps charities with this and businesses can set up the necessary legal agreements for sales fundraising in a matter of minutes.
Find out more at Work for Good or contact fundraising@childrenontheedge.org to talk to a member of our team.
We are grateful for the generous support from some brilliant businesses across the UK who are fundraising for our Ukraine Crisis Appeal through their sales. You can join them and make a a positive difference, whatever your size.
Work for Good helps charities with this and businesses can set up the necessary legal agreements for sales fundraising in a matter of minutes.
Find out more at Work for Good or contact fundraising@childrenontheedge.org to talk to a member of our team.
YOU MIGHT LIKE
A YEAR OF CONFLICT: WHY REFUGEES NEED SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER
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READ OUR UPDATE: RUSSIAN INVASION: ONE YEAR ON
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READ ABOUT OUR HISTORY IN ROMANIA
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READ ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM UKRAINE ON OUR BLOG >>
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Receive news & updates about our programmes around the world
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Please donate now to support Ukrainian families fleeing conflict in Moldova and Romania
Anything you can contribute will make a difference, and go directly to supporting Ukrainian refugee families where it is needed most. We are in regular contact with our partner organisations and contacts on the ground in Moldova and Romania where the situation is changing on a daily basis.
