The General Inspectorate for Migration said that there were 40,406 beneficiaries of temporary protection in Chisinau on February 17, which is 58.5% of the total beneficiaries registered at national level. Compared to the previous week, the number of these people increased by 260, a sign of a steady flow of refugees who choose to benefit from temporary protection in Moldova, IPN reports.
Official data show that of the over 40,000 beneficiaries in the capital city, 13,873 live in the suburbs and the rest are distributed in the five districts, with the highest concentration in Botanica and Centru districts.
At national level, the total number of beneficiaries of temporary protection stands at 69,162 people. Most of them are adults aged between 18 and 59 years, followed by children aged between 5 and 11 years and the older persons over 60 years old.
Temporary protection is a status granted by the Government of the Republic of Moldova to displaced persons from Ukraine, giving them the right to legally reside in the country, access to jobs, healthcare, education for children and social support. Ukrainian citizens who resided in Ukraine before February 24 2022, stateless persons officially recognized until that date, their family members, as well as nationals of other states who previously benefited from protection in Ukraine and who cannot safely return to their countries of origin can benefit from this status. To obtain this status, applicants must present Ukrainian identity documents, proof of residence in Moldova and, if applicable, documents attesting to the family relationship with family members.
The process of applying for temporary protection is free of charge, consisting of two main stages. First, applicants must fill out an online form on the platform protectietemporara.gov.md, where they register their personal data and select a local office of the General Inspectorate for Migration for an interview. Subsequently, they must show up, together with their IDs in the original, at the chosen office, on the scheduled date. There, they will be checked by an operator, will be photographed and will have their fingerprints taken and, if they meet the legal conditions, they will receive the document certifying the status of beneficiary.
The authorities inform that the temporary protection is valid for a fixed period and can be extended. It can cease if the beneficiary leaves the territory of the Republic of Moldova for more than 45 days, obtains protection in another country or renounces this status.
The General Inspectorate for Migration noted that the Republic of Moldova continues to provide support to displaced persons, strengthening efforts to manage the flow of refugees and ensure the necessary conditions for them.
