Ukrainians who fled the war in Romania did not receive financial aid from the state in 2024, Libertatea reports. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies (IGSU), the last payments were made in mid-February, but the cash tranche represented the outstanding amount for the last months of 2023.

“Regarding the expenses related to January and February 2024, our institution has taken steps to the hierarchically higher structure to allocate the necessary funds, starting from the moment of receiving requests from local government bodies, there is currently no objective way to estimate the dates when we we will receive the requested sums,” IGSU representatives said, saying that they will transfer the funds as soon as they are allocated from the state budget.

IGSU county inspectorates received the last tranche of money for Ukrainian refugees on February 15, but these were amounts that had not been paid in the last months of last year.

Aid to Ukrainian refugees was also delayed last year due to a budget deficit.

Several dozen Ukrainian refugees, who are waiting to receive debts from the Romanian state, protested last year in November in front of the Ministry of Finance.

“Keep your promise. Pay the money”, “Government of Romania and dm. President, please fulfill the promises made to Ukrainian refugees” or “Refugees came with hope, but left with debt”, such messages were written on the protesters’ posters.

Among the protesters were also disabled people who complained that they did not receive the funds allocated for the attendant – a person who takes care of a disabled person.

In April 2023, a new program was created to help Ukrainian refugees, according to which money goes directly to the beneficiaries.

Previously, with help under the “50/20” program (50 lei for accommodation and 20 lei for food), the money passed through the hands of intermediaries: Romanians who hosted Ukrainians.

The ruling adopted smaller amounts and stricter award criteria than previous ones. To receive assistance, refugees must meet several conditions: “be registered with one of the district employment agencies or the municipality of Bucharest or, depending on the circumstances, be employed on the territory of Romania” and register the children in some form of education.