On February 24, 2015 UNHCR Representation in the Republic of Belarus jointly with the Belarusian Red Cross Society held the third working meeting devoted to the questions of assistance provision to Ukraine citizens arriving in Belarus.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus as well as the International Organization for Migration, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Refugee Counseling Service.
The event had its aim to exchange information on the achieved results in the framework of agreements reached in the course of previous meeting, to discuss relevant issues for elaboration of solutions as well as to coordinate efforts among different institutions in order to provide efficient assistance to citizens arriving from the territory of Ukraine. Participants exchanged the latest data in their sphere and results of their activities.
During the discussion it was revealed that the number of migrants from Ukraine has significantly increased in the republic and their current number reached over 80 thousand persons. Thus, within the first two month of the current year internal affairs bodies registered 7711 citizens of Ukraine residing on the territory of Belarus. As for the refugee status, in 2014 663 citizens of Ukraine turned to competent bodies for refugee status which is 76.5% from the total amount of applicants. During 2014 the Department on Citizenship and Migration of the MIA of Belarus took 345 decisions in respect to citizens of Ukraine: 284 persons who arrived from Donetsk and Lugansk regions were provided with complementary protection, 31 persons were denied of granting the protection, consideration of 30 applications were terminated due to applicants’ request.
Problems of registration, receiving of accommodation, employment, issues touching upon health, payment of pensions and benefits, education and financial assistance were identified as the most relevant ones.
It was noted that the most vulnerable population layers were provided with assistance from the side of the Belarusian Red Cross Society as well as the Ministries and other bodies in the form of:
— food products and hygiene items;
— urgent medical assistance;
— employment (in separate cases with provision of temporary accommodation);
— education (placement of children in kindergartens and schools);
— payment of social benefits and pensions to persons who received the residential permit.