Facts
A total of
59,930
people in need received our assistance in 2023.
Humanitarian overview
As of February 2024, more than 1 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and crossed into the Republic of Moldova. Some 115,000 individuals remain in the country, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The majority are women and children, representing 81 per cent of the refugee population.
In Moldova, around 83 per cent of refugees live in private accommodation among host communities. The war in Ukraine has also impacted the Roma community, which is among the most vulnerable groups in Moldova. Recent reports of refugees showed that they mainly support themselves by relying on humanitarian assistance, personal savings and pensions.
Since February 2022, Moldova has provided a haven for displaced people – including Ukrainians, non-Ukrainian spouses, and some third-country nationals – under a “state of emergency”. Recognising the need for a more permanent solution, Moldova implemented a temporary protection mechanism on 1 March 2023. This mechanism allows people to register for legal stay and access basic services. Recently, temporary protection was renewed until March 2025, ensuring continued support for the refugees.
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5,711people benefited from our education programme
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7,406people benefited from our food security programme
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8,437people benefited from our shelter programme
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11,757people benefited from our protection programme
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7,630people benefited from our ICLA programme
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35,618people benefited from our WASH programme
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3,685people benefited from other NRC activities
NRC's operations
NRC was registered in Moldova in April 2022. Our country office is in Chișinău. We implement both directly and through our partners. Our approach prioritises a partner-led response that builds on the capacity of local civil society actors to deliver programmes and work to support national authorities.
Education
NRC aims to ensure safe pathways back to learning for refugee children and youth by supporting their integration into formal education and building their skills to deal with the effects of the crisis. We work to strengthen teachers’ skills and provide support to meet the needs of children who have faced displacement and trauma.
Our targeted youth programming supports young leaders in designing, piloting and scaling up youth-led initiatives to respond to Ukrainian refugees’ needs.
Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)
We provide legal information, counselling and assistance through specialised lawyers and implementing partners to help people access rights and services. Our counselling covers legal identity, legal stay, employment laws and procedures, housing, land and property, business registration, and strengthening tenure security, among other needs in Moldova.
We work closely with counterparts in Ukraine to support displaced people relevant to their current situation and needs.
Livelihoods and food security
Our Livelihoods team supports displaced people from Ukraine and vulnerable host communities, including third-country nationals and Roma communities, with employment and entrepreneurial activities directly or through local partners. The activities include business start-up and scale-up support, job counselling, job placement, and vocational training to increase the resilience and self-reliance of the targeted communities.
Protection from violence
We support people affected by displacement, hosting households, and at-risk members of the host community through community engagement approaches and individual protection assistance. Through direct and partner-led service provision, our Protection from Violence programme offers essential services, social activities, referrals, and tailored assistance through mobile teams and community centres in Chisinau and Ocnita.
Shelter and settlements
In Shelter, we support displacement-affected people from Ukraine and vulnerable Moldovans with assistance through light to medium shelter (housing) repair through different modalities (cash and contractor). We also provide winterisation and hygiene items to address the immediate needs of vulnerable people. With the Livelihoods team, the NRC Shelter team plans to support people affected by displacement with light to medium repair for the livelihood community infrastructure.
