WFP and the EU support Moldova's refugee response with vital food and cash assistance and national system strengthening

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the Republic of Moldova has hosted tens of thousands of refugees. More than two million Ukrainians have crossed the country since the start of the war, with close to 150,000 refugees remaining in Moldova as of December 2025. This sustained presence has placed continued pressure on public services, as Moldova has simultaneously faced the war’s broader impacts, including energy and economic crises.

Throughout the response, WFP—supported by the EU and other donors—has distributed more than 7.6 million hot meals to refugees living in up to 102 Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs), assisting over 18,000 refugees as they navigate prolonged displacement and financial uncertainty. In parallel, nearly 21,000 Moldovan host households received cash assistance, helping them manage increased costs while continuing to host more than 58,000 refugees.

Eight out of ten Moldovan households reported they would not have been able to host refugees without this humanitarian cash assistance. Refugees residing in RACs were able to access a well‑balanced diet, thanks to the daily provision of diverse and nutritious meals supported by the EU’s Directorate‑General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

“The European Union remains firmly committed to supporting both Ukrainian refugees and the Moldovan communities hosting them. Together with WFP, we are meeting urgent needs while reinforcing Moldova’s capacity to respond to future shocks. This partnership reflects our continued solidarity with Moldova and our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable,” said Marianna Franco, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine and Moldova.

“For many of the people we support, hot meals and cash assistance have been a vital lifeline—not only because of the food itself, but also for the comfort and stability they provide during extremely difficult times,” said Katrien Ghoos, WFP Representative and Country Director in Moldova. “WFP also facilitates coordination between humanitarian and development actors, helping align technical support with national priorities, including strengthening the Ministry’s capacity to sustainably integrate refugees and respond to future shocks.”

Over four years of engagement in Moldova, WFP has demonstrated its ability to transition from emergency response toward strengthening national systems, ensuring lasting impact beyond direct humanitarian assistance.

WFP has supported the strengthening of Moldova’s social protection system by accelerating the transition of the humanitarian digital registration platform to government ownership, fostering national sustainability. Now integrated with state databases, the platform enables more accurate targeting, enhanced transparency, and improved coordination. WFP has also provided technical expertise in beneficiary management, cash‑based transfers, and shock‑responsive social protection, supporting key reforms aligned with Moldova’s EU accession pathway.

“WFP’s legacy in Moldova lies not only in the scale of assistance provided to refugees and host communities, but also in the systems and partnerships strengthened—reinforcing the country’s ability to protect its most vulnerable people in the face of future crises,” Ghoos added.

The European Union has been a long‑standing and reliable partner to WFP in Moldova, with substantial contributions supporting the refugee response. This four‑year partnership reflects a shared commitment to meeting immediate humanitarian needs while strengthening national capacity, ensuring Moldova can deliver timely and effective responses should future needs arise.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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