“No one can regain what they lost, but we can all provide security, care and compassion for the Ukrainian people.”
During the 47 days of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the relevant institutions estimate that it affected as many as 18 million people – almost half of the total population of Ukraine. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe is experiencing one of the biggest refugee crises since the end of World War II.
The answer to such an act of aggression is the obligation of all – a joint, unique responsibility. On March 4th, EU member states adopted a decision to grant temporary refugee status for one year, with the possibility of renewal. These rights include residence, access to the labour market and housing, medical care and access to education for children. In addition, the European Commission recently launched the global initiative #StandUpForUkraine, which raised as much as 9.1 billion euros to support those fleeing the Russian invasion, at home and abroad. Serbia has also shown commitment by signalling that it is taking the necessary steps to comply with the EU’s decision to offer such status to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.
EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, together with the Ambassadors of Poland, Finland and the Czech Republic, Rafael Perl, Kimmo Lahdevirta and Tomas Kuchta, the Deputy Ambassador of France, Fatih Akcal, the First Secretary of the Hungarian Embassy, Zoltan Istvan Nemethi, and the Counselor in the Ukrainian Embassy in Serbia Mark Martinyuk, visited the asylum centre in Vranje today and talked to refugees from Ukraine who have found refuge in this centre since the war in their country. During the visit, representatives of the delegations from the EU and Ukraine praised the good care and conditions provided by the Commissariat for Refugees and Displaced Persons of Serbia.
Ambassador Giaufret welcomed the openness, goodwill and solidarity of Serbia in the light of the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. “Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 4.38 million people have been forced to leave their country and homes, leaving behind their friends, relatives, homes, schools and businesses, their children’s toys. These lost parts of their lives cannot be made up, but we can do our best to help these people feel safer, cared for and accepted. I am happy to see that the people from the Commissariat for Refugees provide good care and adequate conditions for them, including health care. Once again, we see the solidarity of the Serbian people, and I am happy that the Ukrainian children also went to school. “We are not leaving Serbia alone in this endeavour – the European Union is and will remain the strongest financial partner to support migration management in Serbia,” said Ambassador Giaufret.
Serbia has been helping refugees since 2015, when the increased influx of migrants began, and from the beginning until today, we have witnessed the practice of humane access to people in need. The European Union financially supports these activities. The EU-funded Asylum Center in Vranje has been one of the stations for temporary accommodation for refugees from Ukraine since March 8th. So far, 78 people have been admitted, primarily families.
Currently, 5,698 refugees from Ukraine have registered their residence in Serbia, and a smaller number of them, 41 people in Vranje and nine people in Obrenovac, are in the accommodation of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration. Vladimir Cucić, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, points out that Serbia is the first country outside the European Union to join the Directive and adds: “We provide support in the most concrete way and thank the EU Delegation for significant cooperation in order to provide humane conditions for all refugees“.
More than 4.38 million people have been forced to leave Ukraine across international borders, while over 6 million are believed to be internally displaced.
Refugees from Ukraine, mostly women, girls and children, found their second home in the Center in Vranje, said Adviser in the Embassy of Ukraine in Serbia Mark Martyniuk. He expressed gratitude to the European Union countries whose help to refugees in Serbia is very important.
He pointed out: “I would like to thank all the staff of the Centre, the representatives of the Commissariat and UNHCR, all the organisations and institutions that work here.” He also called on the local authorities in Vranje to, if necessary, enable the inclusion of refugee women in the work of the local community.
Expressing praise and gratitude to the Serbian institutions for their cooperation and the joint task of managing migration and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, European and Ukrainian diplomats ended this visit with the wish that all refugees return to their homes as soon as possible and continue to live a normal life.
The EU is the strongest partner and supports the migration management system of Serbia, and the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration is an essential partner in the implementation of projects in this area. Since 2015, when the increased influx of migrants to the territory of Serbia began, the EU has donated over 130 million euros to support Serbia’s capacity for migration management. The Asylum Center in Vranje was recently reconstructed with about 660,000 euros from EU funds and 330,000 euros from the state budget of Serbia. The EU has also continuously supported Serbian institutions to provide unhindered access to education for migrant children since 2015 through assistance in formal and non-formal education.
