Refugees will have better conditions in Moldova

A medical lab, trainings and jobs for refugees, the allotment or renovation of lodgings, are just few of the results of the project “Improving asylum conditions and international protection in Moldova”, which is part of European Commission’s AENEAS Program. The project was implemented by “Save the Children Moldova” Association (SCM), with the support of the EU and of the Moldovan Ministry of the Interior, Info-Prim Neo reports. Its results were presented on Thursday, March 3, during the closing ceremony. Project manager Roman Leahu said the plan comprised two stages. The first one included the opening of a medical lab, with all the necessary equipment, to offer refugees quality healthcare services. The lab personnel were properly trained, stressed Roman Leahu. The second stage consisted of a set of measures meant to facilitate refugees’ and humanitarian protection beneficiaries’ integration. Among these measures, the project manager mentioned Romanian language courses, the opening of a library, professional training, employment assistance, issuing of ID cards. Moreover, the project included the renovation of refugee families’ homes, identifying host communities and issuing informative publications for them, Roman Leahu said. Vasile Batcu, SCM president, mentioned that the project staff had to deal with many difficulties because of the economic and political crisis. He praised the involvement of UNHCR representatives in Moldova, of NGO “Society for Refugees” and of the Charity Center for Refugees. Batcu highlighted Ministry of the Interior’s considerable role, as the governmental authority responsible for refugees, which offered 20% co-financing, space for the medical lab and paid for its repair. The project was implemented between 2008 and 2011 and had a budget of €625,000.