UNHCR Romania: Ukraine Refugee Situation Update, Weekly Update #130, 20 January 2025

Countries: Romania, Ukraine Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Key figures 177,632 refugees obtained temporary protection in Romania (as of 30 November 2024). 17,547 refugees enrolled for cash assistance in 2024 and 2025. 24,771 refugees provided with protection counselling services and legal support in 2024 and 2025. 9,471 refugees supported with livelihood and employment services in 2024 and 2025. Highlight On 16 January, the United Nations (UN) and partners launched twin humanitarian and refugee response plans for 2025. The plans, launched during an event in Kyiv, together with the Government of Ukraine, outlines strategies to address the needs of those affected by the war. This year, UN agencies and partners are appealing for 3.3 billion USD, to support 8.2 million people affected by the crisis within Ukraine and in the region, including Romania. The event included a video message from Malva Association, a refugee-led organisation in Bucharest, Romania, who talked about their activities for refugees from Ukraine and their community work to give back to the Romanian society. In 2025 and 2026, the Refugee Response Plan for Romania is appealing for 155 million USD to cover proposed activities from 42 appealing partners - including UN Agencies, national and international NGOs, and refugee-led organisations – working in the country. Humanitarian Response and Advocacy On 16 January, UNHCR and its partners delivered over 2,200 CRIs to the Independent Midwives Association in Bucharest. Items such as hygiene kits, diapers, quilts, and pillows are delivered to more than 950 vulnerable Ukrainian families residing in and around Bucharest. Moreover, in the past week, UNHCR and World Vision distributed over 200 hygiene kits in Constanta to refugee families in vulnerable situations. UNHCR and RRP partners are working together to assist refugees in their journey to self-reliance. On 16 January, the monthly Livelihood and Economic Inclusion working group reunited in an online format to discuss the results of 2024 and objectives for 2025. The meeting was attended by 30 representatives and included presentations from World Vision and the Metropolitan Agency for Durable Development Brașov (AMDDB) on the continuation of the programmes focusing on labour market inclusion in Bucharest, Brașov, Constanța, Cluj, Suceava and Iași. During the coordination meeting, partners reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing refugees with language classes and programmes with employment referrals. On 17 January, UNHCR and UNICEF discussed respective joint interventions for 2025 in three key programmatic areas – child protection, gender-based violence and education. With a view of supporting existing programmes, UNHCR will coordinate various activities together with authorities on technical support related to child protection matters. Furthermore, the meeting aimed at organizing a workshop for members of the Child Protection sub-working group to review the work in 2024 and set priorities and outputs for 2025.

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