UNHCR visit to Razeni and Mereni

19 August 2015, the Head of UNHCR office in Moldova, Mr. Traian Turcanu accompanied by the Deputy Director of the Bureau for Migration, Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru and implementing partners paid a visit to Razeni and Mereni villages. It was a familiarization visit for the new Head of UNHCR to meet eight refugee families hosted by Moldavian communities since 2011. The visit was monitored by Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR).

Because of the recent local elections, the delegation had an opportunity to congratulate both mayors on their election victory winning the position for a second time. In this context, the Head of UNHCR gave good wishes to Mr. Ion Cretu (mayor of Razeni) and Mrs. Aurelia Rosca (deputy mayor of Mereni) stressing the fruitful results of UNHCR and its implementing partners’ collaboration with both communities.

Four years ago, in the framework of Local Integration project, UNHCR reconstructed four apartments in Mereni and Razeni to accommodate refugee families. It was agreed to transmit apartments to the most vulnerable refugee families, who after a period of time will be ready to find their own accommodation. In this regard, the Head of UNHCR visited refugee families and discussed about the temporality of the provided shelter. He stressed that the period of the provided housing is coming to an end and that families need to think about another accommodation options. Also, was paid attention to the fact that from day to day the Republic of Moldova is receiving more vulnerable refugee families from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. and who are in great necessity of shelter. Thus, UNHCR informed refugees about the current situation and expressed its initiative of offering housing also to other persons of concern.

Inga Roman - CCR Project Assistant