Support and integration

Ensuring livelihoods and assisting in the integration of refugees in Slovakia

material assistance

ADRA continues to provide material assistance to refugees, mainly through ADRA DobroCentier in Banská Bystrica, Gerlachov, Košice, Liptovský Hrádek, Martin, Piešt'any, Trenčín, Kežmarok and the Humanitarian Aid Site Who will help Ukraine Aupark in Bratislava.

Location of humanitarian aid Aupark in Bratislava Provides food aid and hygiene items to registered refugees with a temporary shelter certificate.
Mothers with children under 15, senior citizens over 65 and disadvantaged citizens are eligible.

ATTENTION! If you decide Register for material aid at the humanitarian aid point in Aupark in Bratislava, it is not possible to receive aid for the disabled through the humanitarian card!

Help for the disabled

For those leaving Ukraine who are severely disabled we have a new assistance program: on presentation of a disability card with the 1st and 2nd degree (according to the Ukrainian legislation) you can register and get humanitarian aid card, to buy food and basic necessities at a limited value.

Most of the deportees come to Slovakia without any resources, so material assistance is very important. The aid card allows them to decide for themselves what they need most.

ATTENTION! If you decide Register for aid intended for disabled people in the form of a humanitarian card, it is not possible to receive material aid in the place of humanitarian aid in Aupark in Bratislava!

Counselling and psychosocial support

Integration and psychosocial support

Integration activities and psychosocial services are key for the leavers. They help returnees to adapt to their new environment, understand their rights and navigate complex issues such as the labour market and communication with the authorities. This is why ADRA provides psychosocial counselling and organises community events for the returnees. One of the aspects of integration is job search support to help the departees become financially self-sufficient and feel more involved in their new communities. The provision of psychosocial counselling is key for leavers who have experienced trauma or are facing psychological problems. Such integration activities and psychosocial services are essential for the leavers and give them the support they need to rebuild their lives and adjust to their new circumstances.

THE SITUATION

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Slovakia has been facing an influx of refugees. More than one million Ukrainians and third-country nationals have entered Slovakia from the territory of Ukraine since 24 February 2022, 78 % of them being women and children. The departees from Ukraine are mainly elderly people, persons with disabilities and those in need of urgent medical care. Humanitarian organisations, civil society, the private sector and community volunteers have responded quickly and since the beginning of the war have been providing significant support to the refugees both in the larger cities and in villages and at the borders.

Temporary protection status is available to refugees and their families from 1 March 2022 . By the end of December 2022, a total of 104 764 persons had applied for temporary protection in Slovakia. Holders of such status are entitled to urgent and necessary health care and certain social benefits, including basic assistance items, childcare allowances for children up to three years of age or up to six years of age for children with long-term adverse health conditions, allowances for lunch menus in kindergartens and primary schools, and school supplies.

However, despite the mechanisms in place and the generally favourable social climate, refugees face major challenges and lack access to basic services. These include access to long-term housing, employment, quality health care, sexual and reproductive health care, preventive maternal and child care, immunization education, accessible social protection mechanisms, provision of specialized services for survivors of gender-based violence, and access to existing assistance mechanisms for persons with special needs. Children and persons with serious health problems are most at risk.

The risk of further displacement from Ukraine is still high, and new refugees are expected to arrive in Slovakia in the context of the escalation of attacks and damage to civilian infrastructure and the evacuation of civilians in conflict-affected areas. The number of people in need of assistance in Slovakia may reach up to 200,000 during 2023. This situation will place an additional burden on the system, especially in the areas of accommodation and health services. In addition, there are secondary movements of refugees from Ukraine to other countries in the region, which poses additional challenges for both authorities and humanitarian organisations in planning services.

Partners:

Project „Support for Livelihoods and Self-Reliance for Ukraine War Victims in Slovakia,“ 3/2023 - 8/2023, is implemented with funds from the Japan Platform a ADRA Japan.

Material assistance to the leavers is made possible through the support of private and corporate donors. You can read about who they are and how they help here.