What’s happening in Moldova?
When war broke out in Ukraine, thousands of families fled for safety and crossed the border into neighbouring Moldova. Soon, the population of this small country had grown by 4 per cent, and it was hosting one of the highest numbers of refugees per capita in Europe.
Most of these refugees are women, children or older people, and a third are under the age of 18. Nine out of 10 of them live in host communities, rather than camps or settlements, although some public buildings have been turned into temporary shelters to house them.
Since February 2022, refugees have been allowed to live and work in Moldova under an ongoing state of emergency. But many have only their savings and pensions to live on – and with inflation at an all-time high, they’re struggling to afford food, warm clothing and other basic essentials.
On top of these challenges, Moldova has been facing an energy crisis, which has further stretched its already limited resources. The ongoing disruptions in gas and electricity supplies have left both host communities and refugee families increasingly vulnerable, with many struggling to keep their homes warm and safe. This crisis undermines the stability and wellbeing of a country that has provided shelter to displaced people from Ukraine for nearly three years.