Challenges and Urgent Needs: Ukrainian Roma Refugee Odyssey in Central and Eastern Europe

Today marks two years since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on 24 February. Since the very beginning, ERGO Network has been supporting Ukrainian Roma both in Ukraine and abroad as they sought refuge in other countries in Europe. The war triggered a migration crisis of a proportion Europe was not prepared for: among the 5 million Ukrainian refugees, approximately 100,000 Roma individuals. From that very first day, through our work with our member organisation, Roma Women Fund Chiricli, we have followed the journeys of many Ukrainian Roma, setting up emergency funds and providing money for food, medicine or petrol to individuals and families.

In the true spirit of ERGO Network, our work on Ukraine started from the very grassroots and scaled up in those two difficult years into a fully-fledged line of work, with the support of EPIM and other smaller grants. Today, on this sad anniversary, we would like to share with you one of the results of this work: the Monitoring Report of the Situation of Ukrainian Roma Refugees in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia. Our member organisations and associates brought it together, painting the big picture with the brushstrokes of individual interviews and research analysis.

The focus of this crisis goes beyond sheer numbers. In Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia, Roma refugees from Ukraine face enduring discrimination rooted in cultural-historical issues, presenting challenges not commonly encountered by other refugees. Discrimination takes various forms, hindering access to crucial resources like housing, employment, information, and support services.

Despite the implementation of Temporary Protection (TP) and subsequent enhancements, the vulnerabilities of the Roma community within refugee populations persist. Cultural differences, discrimination, and limited education continue to shape their journey, resulting in subpar conditions and ongoing challenges.

The report, drawing from diverse data sources and covering the period until June 2023, provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by Roma refugees in these countries. It underscores the imperative for sustained attention and targeted interventions to address the unique challenges confronted by the Roma refugee community.

Major Findings: A Closer Look

The Roma refugee crisis unfolded in two distinct periods, with concrete measures taken by individual countries crucial for understanding and addressing challenges specific to the Roma community. Across Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia, multifaceted challenges rooted in cultural-historical issues permeate crucial aspects like housing, employment, and support services.

In Poland, the collective approach of Roma refugees seeking security exacerbates challenges for activists facing substantial personal, financial, and societal pressures due to antigypsyism. Hungary grapples with historical racial marginalisation, necessitating a comprehensive strategy to address prolonged shelter stays and align with EU guidelines.

The Czech Republic views Roma refugees mainly as transient, demanding urgent attention for their long-term integration. Despite a robust legal framework, Romania confronts housing, education, employment, and healthcare challenges. Moldova contends with persistent disparities, emphasising the need for concerted efforts to bridge gaps in access to services, combat discrimination, and enhance advocacy initiatives.

The Slovak Republic, while actively assisting Ukrainian refugees, highlights instances of bias and challenges faced by Roma families. Slovakia’s legal framework and support measures reveal areas where targeted interventions are crucial to address discrimination and ensure equitable treatment for all refugees, including the Roma community.

Persisting Challenges Despite Efforts

While certain aspects, such as advancements in legal frameworks and increased awareness, offer positive aspects, socioeconomic problems, discrimination, and barriers to employment persist. ERGO Network Coordinator for Ukraine Dejan Markovic criticised the ‘colour-blind’ approach of service providers exacerbates the situation, overlooking institutional antigypsyism and challenges faced by the Roma refugee community:

“Ukrainian Roma refugees, forced to flee conflict and persecution, face not only the challenges of displacement but also the risks of discrimination and marginalisation in their quest for safety and stability.”

Increased awareness regarding the discrimination faced by Roma refugees has prompted advocacy and awareness campaigns, fostering improved understanding and collaboration among stakeholders. Yet, the prolonged armed conflict has intensified challenges within Roma communities, affecting socioeconomic indicators and hindering access to essential services.

Persistent barriers to employment, particularly for Roma women, highlight ongoing challenges. Limited educational access and language barriers remain formidable obstacles, indicating the need for targeted interventions.

Discrimination against Roma refugees, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries, remains pronounced. The report emphasises the imperative for targeted interventions, ongoing monitoring, and adaptive strategies to address the distinct challenges faced by the Roma refugee community.

Recommendations for International organisations

Recommendations put forth in the report include implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, streamlining asylum processes, providing free legal counselling, launching public awareness campaigns, ensuring equitable healthcare access, offering language and integration classes, developing job placement and vocational training programs, supporting NGOs, fostering collaboration, and establishing data collection and monitoring mechanisms.

The report recommends sustaining and evolving collaborative efforts for international organisations, emphasising the importance of ongoing engagement with the Roma Coordination Group and incorporating contributions from thematic meetings conducted by UN WOMEN.

For the European Union, the report urges heightened awareness, the universal application of the Temporary Protection Directive, and the adoption of promising initiatives observed in certain EU countries. A multifaceted approach at the EU and national levels is recommended, encompassing legal frameworks, streamlined asylum processes, culturally sensitive services, public awareness campaigns, and financial support for NGOs.

For the past two years, we have worked jointly with our member organisations and independent Roma researchers to create a comprehensive analysis of the so-called bigger picture by bringing the perspective of the grassroots and connecting and empowering them. It is not in our power to stop the war. Still, we hope this report serves as a compelling call to action, stressing the need for sustained efforts to ensure the inclusion and well-being of the Roma refugee community in the broader European context.

Challenges Faced by Roma Refugees from Ukraine in Moldova

A Closer Look at the Plight of Ukraine’s Roma Community as They Navigate Moldova’s Borders

Moldova – In the heart of Eastern Europe, a lesser-known humanitarian crisis unfolds as over 40,000 Roma citizens from Ukraine have sought refuge in Moldova since February 24, 2022. Among them, an estimated 5,000 Roma refugees now reside in Moldova and Gagauzia, with an additional 2,000 in Transnistria, facing daunting challenges and discrimination in their quest for a better life.

Moldova has opened its doors to approximately 40,000 Roma citizens from Ukraine since February 24, 2022, offering them refuge from the conflict in their home country. However, a recent report by ERGO Network, together with our member organisation in Moldova Roma Women Platform ROMNI, highlights the numerous challenges and hardships that these vulnerable Roma refugees continue to encounter in their new host nation.

As of the most recent data available, Moldova is now home to around 5,000 Roma refugees, with an additional 2,000 residing in Transnistria. Women constitute approximately 35% of this population, while men make up 10%, leaving the rest as children and youth. These numbers are subject to change due to fluctuating financial situations and the support available from local authorities and organizations.

Battling Discrimination

Historically, Roma has faced discrimination and antigypsyism. Language barriers and a lack of identity documents further contribute to their difficulties. Even in times of peace, Roma often encounter obstacles, and during times of conflict, their needs are exacerbated. They often do not receive the same level of compassion, services, or rights as other refugees, and more traditional Roma families face even greater hardships.

The social distance index underscores that Roma refugees are among the least tolerated groups in Moldova. The situation for the Roma community is particularly complex due to differences in language, traditions, appearance, and religion when compared to other refugee groups and the larger population. Reports of intimidation and discrimination against Roma refugees by Moldovan authorities, locals, and even other refugee groups have added to their challenges.

Interviews and discussions with public authorities and non-governmental organizations reveal that Roma refugees are often indirectly accused of not being Ukrainian, highlighting the vulnerabilities of the Roma community during crises and underscoring the need for targeted assistance and protection.

Disparities in Housing

Moldova’s national authorities have established 136 Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs) across the country, with 60 remaining active as of April 25, 2023, to provide refugee shelter. However, the challenges facing Roma refugees are starkly evident. They are often separated from Ukrainian refugees and face difficulties being accepted by centre administrators. The conditions in these centres, particularly early on, were deplorable, with inadequate food, insufficient bedding, and limited facilities.

Despite the efforts of international organisations to improve conditions across Moldova’s RACs, including the segregated ones, Roma refugees struggle to access necessary services. There is a notable disparity between the treatment of Roma refugees and other refugee categories in terms of living conditions, food, access to aid, location, infrastructure, and medical and educational services.

Concerns in Education

Approximately 80% of Ukrainian Roma refugees in Moldova are either illiterate or have limited education. This lack of education significantly hampers their ability to meet basic needs, access services, and secure employment in the Moldovan labour market. Negative stereotypes and prejudices only compound the problem, making it difficult for those with limited education to find work in a new country.

Addressing the educational needs of refugee children from Ukraine has been a crucial development. The Crisis Management Centre (CUGC) issued a provision requiring the enrolment of foreign refugee children in educational institutions. It tasked the Ministry of Education and Research with developing the enrolment mechanism. This allowed all children from Ukrainian refugee families, regardless of their asylum seeker status, to participate in educational activities without the obligation to attend compulsory school or take exams.

Notably, the status of refugee children as auditors in educational institutions remains valid until the child’s legal representatives submit an application for temporary protection within the Republic of Moldova. Once temporary protection status is granted, it becomes crucial to establish clear mechanisms for the integration of refugee children into educational institutions.

Unfortunately, the number of families with temporary protection status remains low, thus also impacting children’s education. An additional challenge is created by the lack of suitable clothes, shoes, school supplies and transport facilities between the school and the centres where the refugees live.

Healthcare Challenges

Healthcare provision for displaced persons from Ukraine remains a challenge, particularly in Temporary Accommodation Centres and rented accommodations. Access to medical care, medicines, and medical devices is inadequate, with a greater impact on vulnerable groups such as children and those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or special needs. The situation is particularly dire for Roma refugees, with deficiencies in medical supplies and essential care noted in certain centres.

Previously, a set of provisions granted displaced persons free primary and emergency healthcare, medical assistance, and services for chronic diseases, but these were revoked. Now, basic healthcare access requires being a beneficiary of temporary protection or an asylum seeker, a condition unattainable for most Roma refugees. This creates a pressing need for medicines, medical devices, and surgical interventions to respect human dignity and prevent severe consequences.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is crucial in supporting Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, irrespective of their legal status. UNHCR provides this assistance and helps vulnerable families meet their basic needs, mitigate protection risks, and stimulate the local economy. Each member of a refugee family is entitled to financial aid, with regular renewals through personal verification.

Registration for financial assistance occurs through personal verification at registration centres in various cities. While eight centres operate in Moldova, there is a gap in coverage in Transnistria.

Measures to Support Roma

The Roma Task Force (RTF) brings together various groups to address the needs of Roma refugees. They work on discrimination, healthcare and education access, paperwork difficulties, and cultural awareness.

The shift to temporary protection reveals the need for online support. The application process requires skills to navigate official sites and fill out required forms and documentation, where many Roma face challenges due to illiteracy. Temporary protection initially lasts for one year but can be extended up to two years if needed.

As of May 22, 2023, applications for temporary protection were in process, even for minor children. A significant challenge in implementing temporary protection is obtaining proof of residence, causing difficulties for applicants and posing a barrier to those who intend to apply. Miscommunication and reliance on property owners or managers to obtain proof of residence further complicate the situation for refugees.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Moldova’s response to the influx of Roma refugees from Ukraine has been marked by a series of challenges, ranging from issues in housing and education to healthcare and financial assistance. The report underscores the need for targeted support and protection for the vulnerable Roma community in Moldova. It highlights areas where improvements are necessary to ensure the well-being and integration of these refugees into Moldovan society.

Moldova and the international community must continue supporting and protecting this vulnerable community. The plight of Ukrainian Roma refugees serves as a stark reminder of the inequalities and prejudices that persist in times of crisis and the urgent need for collective action to address them.

Today marks 365 days – one year – since the full-scale war that Russia started against Ukraine.

A year ago today ERGO Network strongly condemned this war. We expressed our full solidarity and our support to Ukraine, and in particular to our member organisation in Ukraine – Roma Women Fund “Chiricli”.

With the help of our Ukrainian colleagues, we advocated and fundraised for the Roma people who stayed in Ukraine and faced danger, displacement, and economic and physical hardships. Through our networks in Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary we supported the arriving Ukrainian Roma refugees and did our best to make their forced move easier.

Through our network and our members, we were fortunate to be able to contribute to the fight for freedom, democracy and human rights. We were even more fortunate to be able to support the Roma people.

Throughout this year we have seen that the war did not eradicate antigypsyism. If anything, it worsened the already hard situation of many Ukrainian Roma both in Ukraine and in Europe.

Today, one year later, we stand strong in our commitment to work and support our people as long as it takes for Ukraine to win the war. We will also continue to fight antigypsyism, which is never justified: neither in the peacetimes nor during the war.

In his speech today, marking the one year since the beginning of the war, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:

“We became one family. We no longer have strangers here. Ukrainians today are all our own. Ukrainians hosted Ukrainians, opened their homes and their hearts for those who needed to flee the war.”

We want to believe that those many Roma soldiers on the frontlines defending their country, those Roma men and women protecting their cities and villages, doing their part in helping their communities and their neighbours, those Roma mothers who had to flee the country to save their children – the future of Ukraine and every Ukrainian Roma citizen making the small but significant daily steps to advance the victory; We want to believe that these Ukrainians will be recognised as a part of the big family, and their contribution in the victory remembered and cherished.