The war in Ukraine, which broke out in February 2022, has driven millions of people from their homes in search of safety. Some 90 thousand Ukrainians have found refuge in Moldova and people continue to arrive. Some choose to go to other countries, others stay, because here they are closer to their homeland, they get protected status and necessary living conditions, and the community offers them much-needed support and compassion. For Svetlana Cazacova and Irina Covric, Chisinau – the capital of the Republic of Moldova – has become a city of the soul, where they wait patiently for the peace of Ukraine.

Svetlana Cazacova: brave in the face of war and financial hardship

Svetlana Cazacova, aged 72, lived in the city of Odessa with her husband, who suffered a stroke, and 40-year-old daughter. The decision to give up everything they had built a lifetime’s worth by going on a long journey with a gravely ill patient was made on the 10th day of the war. It became clear that they had to save themselves after the building near the house was bombed before Svetlana’s eyes.

“I understand that tomorrow or even today, a bomb may fall on our building. People were hiding on the stairs of the block, realizing that they would not survive in the basement. I couldn’t take my husband into hiding, so I chose to stay with him, but my daughter insisted that I take shelter as soon as I received the warning messages. Then, I got tired of being afraid, I said if I die, do it in my own home. I left the country at my daughter’s insistence and we took shelter in the Republic of Moldova with my sister. I thought we were coming for a week, but we stayed for two years, says Svetlana in tears.

In a short time, the family had to rent an apartment in order to provide the space and conditions for the man with reduced mobility. At the first stage, the family’s allowance of 300 euro was enough to pay the rent, but as prices rose, the family started to accumulate debts.

The situation became even more complicated when Svetlana and her daughter found out that they had been deprived of their previous UN Refugee Agency grant. Seeking legal assistance, the family turned to the Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPD), an organization that promotes and defends the rights of vulnerable groups and people with disabilities in Moldova.

According to the legal officer of the CRPD, Gheorghe Bosii, the organization started registering applications for legal assistance to restore financial aid for refugees in early June, 2024. The documentation of the criteria for discontinuation of financial assistance revealed that the UNHCR cut the budget by 30%, and as a result, some refugees were excluded from the list of beneficiaries without being notified or given the necessary arguments.

To date, the Disability Law Center has received approximately 20 applications for legal assistance to resume financial aid, which are in the process of being resolved. The majority of stranded refugees end up accessing the center’s services by referral, dispersing information among fellow nationals.

Irina Covric, seeking safety and fighting for survival

Irina Covric, aged 58, from the Odessa region, also received valuable legal support at the CRPD. Nine months after the beginning of the war, she decided to find refuge in the Republic of Moldova. On September 15, 2022, Irina crossed the border of the Republic of Moldova on foot, on her own and without transportation, carrying only her documents and heart medication.

In the two years she has been in Moldova, she has survived two heart attacks and one surgery, which is why she is unable to work full time. Left homeless in a refugee center due to misunderstandings, she was housed by members of a religious community in the capital, where she still lives. Irina’s only source of income remained her refugee allowance, the 2,200 lei, or €120, granted monthly by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which was suspended for unknown reasons in May 2024.

“I liked how we were received in Moldova. We are given clothes, food. We are provided with what we need. The allowance, however, was barely enough to cover my transportation expenses and heart preparations, which are not available in Moldova and I buy them periodically from Ukraine. When I ran out of this allowance, it became even harder.”, says Irina.

“Irina came to us when she was left without financial support and without a place to live. We gave her the necessary advice and helped her to write her reassessment appeal and regain her financial support by regaining her benefit. When the financial sources came on her card, we rejoiced with her.” says Gheorghe Bosîi, legal expert at CDPD.

The Cazacov family regained the right to refugee allowance for each member. After 5 hours of legal consultations, challenges and determining the family’s vulnerability, Svetlana felt a deep sense of relief and joy.

According to information from the CDPD, 90% of Ukrainians who have fled the war by coming to Moldova are mothers with children, elderly or people with special needs.

Thus, as the UN refugee budget is being reduced, the Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urges state structures to identify reliable solutions to provide financial support to the vulnerable community, so that the state can provide them with a safe and welcoming environment.

This article was produced in partnership with Association „Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPD),” from Republic of Moldova as part of the programme ‘Ukraine war: Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) led disability inclusive response and recovery’ (Phase II), which is implemented in collaboration with the European Disability Forum (EDF) with the financial support of CBM. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and other OPDs.