The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) mounted events to mark World Refugee Day in central Chisinau. In Moldova, the number of refugees continues to increase. Starting with 2001, World Refugee Day has been celebrated annually on June 20, IPN reports.
The program staged by the UN Agency for refugees in the central park of Chisinau included a performance by the orchestra of the Ministry of the Interior. There were also prepared traditional dishes and staged programs for children and games. The refugees also gave a performance of music.
According to the UN, more than 50 million people all over the world feel the need to leave their homes because of the war and to find refuge in foreign countries. In Moldova, the number of those who ask for protection continues to rise, especially amid the crises in Syria and, more recently, in Ukraine. As many as 72 applications for asylum were recorded in 2011, as against 245 in 2014. Today, there are 413 refugees or persons with humanitarian status in Moldova. Most of these come from Syria, Ukraine, Armenia, Afghanistan and Iraq, being forced to flee by the danger of war.
The UNHCR Office was opened in Moldova 18 years ago and, according to the Office’s current Head Traian Turcanu, the situation of refugees has improved significantly owing to the approval of the necessary legislations and to the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. “Our commitment is to protect the refugees and I count on our society, free from prejudice and stereotypes,” stated Traian Turcanu.
The refugees in Moldova benefit from the same rights as the Moldovans, except for the political and military rights. After eight years of uninterrupted stay, these can apply for Moldovan nationality. A number of 21 refugees have so far become citizens of Moldova.
There are almost 20 million refugees all over the world, with more than half of these being children. The figures rise at an accelerated pace every day, on each continent. In 2014, almost 42,500 persons became refugees, asylum seekers or internally displaced people daily. These figures are four times higher than four years ago.
High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, in his official speech on World Refugee Day, said societies should unite and help the victims of war or can risk waiting until the less rich countries and communities, which are home to 86% of the world refugee population, will stifle and will become unstable.
