WFP welcomes €1.5 million from the European Union to support Ukrainian refugees and strengthen Moldova's national social protection system
CHIȘINĂU - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a generous contribution of €1.5 million from the European Union. This crucial humanitarian funding will enable WFP to continue providing vital assistance to Ukrainian refugees in the Refugee Accommodation Centres through hot meals provision, and to refugee host families through cash assistance. The contribution will also support efforts to strengthen the country's national social protection system to better assist the most vulnerable.
Moldova continues to experience significant impacts due to the war in Ukraine. Since 2022, almost 2 million Ukrainians have crossed into the country. Currently, over 127,000 remain, accounting for around 5% of Moldova’s total population – the highest Ukrainian refugee population per capita in the world.
With this new EU contribution, WFP will continue to deliver hot meals in Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs) across the country and to Ukrainian refugees at border crossings. In addition, WFP will offer cash assistance to Moldovan households hosting Ukrainian refugees.
The funding will also be directed towards strengthening Moldova’s national social protection system, helping to support refugee integration and social cohesion with host communities, and building the government's capacity to deliver Emergency Cash Transfers to those impacted by disasters and crises.
WFP plays a crucial coordinating role in social protection efforts within the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus in Moldova, fostering strong synergies and added value. By co-leading technical working groups, such as the EU Nexus Workshop series, WFP is effectively positioned to support and advance social assistance reforms in close collaboration with the Government, aligning with the EU's priorities for social protection.
“The war in Ukraine has forced millions to flee their homes. Faced with immense challenges, refugees need our unwavering support. That’s why the EU remains committed to providing aid, protection, and long-term assistance to help them rebuild their lives, also outside their country,” said Marianna Franco, the Head of Office for EU Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine and Moldova.
“As WFP continues to meet urgent humanitarian needs, the EU’s contribution is instrumental in enabling WFP’s shift towards approaches to sustainable social protection systems that support and benefit both refugees and vulnerable Moldovans,” said Katrien Ghoos, WFP Representative and Country Director in Moldova.
“This contribution makes a difference in addressing immediate needs and reinforces national social protection systems and government capacities for long-term resilience and impact,” she added.
Since the onset of the Ukrainian refugee crisis in 2022, WFP has provided significant support to vulnerable Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. This includes the provision of 6.2 million hot meals in Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs) across the country. Over the last three years, the European Union has been a key supporter of these and other WFP activities in Moldova. Thanks to its generous contributions, alongside support from other donors, WFP has also provided cash assistance to more than 84,000 Moldovans hosting refugees.
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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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