Thousands of Ukrainians are taking refuge in Romania, fleeing the war that changed their lives in an instant. In this geopolitical, emotional, logistical uproar, accurate and clear informations are needed.
Refugees can enter Romania through any of the official border crossing points. What documents do they need? If they have a passport, they can enter and stay in Romania for 90 days. Those who do not have such a document or identity card can also enter, applying for refugee status right at the border crossing point. Children have preferential access on the basis of a birth certificate and can cross the border without parents or without the need for a power of attorney signed by the parent who does not accompany them. They can stay in Romania for up to 90 days, after which an asylum application is needed, submitted to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), the Border Police, the National Administration of Penitentiary Institutions or to the police stations in the country, more precisely to those who have centers of detention or temporary detention.
There are many initiatives of the Romanian state or of volunteers to help refugees.
The Code for Romania Association launched the Dopomoha.ro platform. Dopomoha means help in Ukrainian, and Ukrainian refugees can find here detailed information about the procedure for entering the country, the methods of applying for asylum in Romania, the rights and obligations of those people, what resources they can access, etc.
The platform is a general information and support guide for those who want to take refuge in Romania due to the war in Ukraine and can be accessed through the browser from any device. It is available in Ukrainian, Romanian, English and Russian. The platform will be constantly updated with useful information verified by the International Organization for Migration, the Romanian National Council for Refugees and the Department for Emergency Situations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, according a statement of the Code for Romania Association.
„United for Ukraine” is a support group on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/unitipentruucraina/; similar is „Volunteers in Europe”, https://www.facebook.com/voluntarieu/. Both groups receive volunteers.
At the same time, the Union of Ukrainians in Romania has published a list of contacts, by region, which refugees can access with confidence, https://uur.ro/?lang=en.
Last but not least, all major international profile organizations such UNHCR, Doctors Without Borders, Ukraine and Romania Red Cross or UNICEF are involved.
The mobilization is also unprecedented among Romanian associations and NGOs that offer accommodation and food for refugees./cionescu//opopescu
RADOR – february 28
