IsraAID Launches Ukraine Refugee Crisis Response in Moldova

Israeli humanitarian NGO will provide support for refugees at Ukrainian-Moldovan border

Friday 25 February 2022. For immediate release:

IsraAID, Israel’s leading non-governmental humanitarian aid organization, will dispatch an emergency team to Moldova to provide urgent support to the large and rapidly growing numbers of Ukrainians fleeing to the border in search of safety. IsraAID’s team will travel to Moldova by the beginning of next week, and will focus initially on urgent relief distributions and protection and mental health support for vulnerable, newly-arrived Ukrainian refugees. IsraAID’s team will also assess needs on the ground in Moldova and other Ukrainian border countries and provide additional support as needed.

Following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have traveled to the country’s western borders in search of safety in neighboring countries. According to the Moldovan government, more than 15,800 Ukrainians had crossed into Moldova as of the morning of February 25th. Moldova, alongside other Ukrainian border countries, has relaxed or removed restrictions on entry from Ukraine, including the need to carry a passport or present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

IsraAID has worked extensively with refugees in Europe and around the world in recent years. In 2021, IsraAID launched an ongoing program in Albania supporting refugees evacuated from Afghanistan. Following the explosion of the Middle East refugee crisis in 2015, IsraAID launched long-term refugee support programs in Greece and Germany. IsraAID has also worked supporting displaced populations, including in post-conflict settings and protracted crises, in countries such as Colombia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

Commenting on the organization’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, IsraAID’s CEO Yotam Polizer said:

“We are deeply concerned by the devastating humanitarian situation that is unfolding in Ukraine. Once again, we are seeing a potential influx of large numbers of refugees in Europe who need urgent support. As we have done in the past, including during the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, IsraAID stands ready to respond.

For many years now, we have worked with refugees in Europe and around the world, and our focus will be on ensuring the most vulnerable Ukrainians seeking safety have access to urgent supplies and support. Our team will stay in Moldova for as long as we are needed and may deploy to other Ukrainian border countries as the situation develops.”

IsraAID’s Emergency Fund ensures the organization can respond urgently to crises worldwide. Donations to support IsraAID’s disaster relief efforts can be made here.

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Further information is available on request.

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