For Ukrainian refugees
Federal government wants to set up an air bridge to Moldova
03/12/2022, 12:11 p.m
One of the economically weakest countries in Europe has taken in more than 300,000 people since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Funds are already being provided to Moldova, but the country needs more help. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock promises relief.
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Germany is working with international partners to set up an airlift for Ukrainian refugees from Moldova. Such an airlift is “absolutely sensible,” said the Green politician after a meeting with her Moldovan counterpart Nicu Popescu in the state capital of Chisinau. At the same time, Baerbock announced that the federal government would bring 2,500 Ukrainian refugees from Moldova directly to Germany as a first step. She agreed this with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
A corridor with buses via Romania is also under construction for the distribution of refugees from Moldova, said Baerbock. People should also be flown out of Moldova directly or via neighboring countries with larger airport capacities. This could also happen across the Atlantic – i.e. to the USA or Canada. “You have to be very pragmatic in this situation and not work out a one hundred percent perfect concept for three months,” said the minister.
Eight million euros for Moldova
The EU has made emergency aid of five million euros available for Moldova, and the federal government has provided an additional three million euros, said Baerbock. These funds would come in addition to the 37 million euros in economic aid for this year that the development ministry has already planned. Among other things, the Technical Relief Agency supplies camp beds, sleeping bags, tents, heaters and food.
According to Popescu, Moldova has so far taken in around 300,000 people from Ukraine, of whom more than 100,000 are still in the country. The former Soviet republic is one of the economically weakest countries in Europe.
His country has opened the borders even though the country’s resources are very limited, Popescu said. Moldova needs further foreign assistance to ensure stability and to cope with the humanitarian costs associated with hosting refugees. Moldova’s foreign minister made clear his country’s interest in further rapprochement with the European Union and asked for support from the EU border protection organization Frontex in monitoring the border with Ukraine. Frontex could also help register the refugees.
Baerbock then met Moldovan President Maia Sandu. After that, the minister wanted to visit a reception center for refugees at the exhibition center in the capital, Chisinau. According to the Foreign Office, those who arrive are registered there, there are temporary accommodations, an infirmary and a vaccination center against the corona pandemic. The facility can accommodate up to 4,000 people. In the afternoon, Baerbock wanted to get an idea of the situation at a border crossing to Ukraine.