2022-2023 Achievements Report, IOM

Republic of Moldova has, per capita, received and transited the largest number of people fleeing Ukraine since the start of the war. More than 1,000,000 have entered, with most moving through into the European Union, and some 109,357 remaining in Republic of Moldova, according to Government data1. This has presented a strain on the existing infrastructure and services, in a country that has long seen significant out-migration, a fragile economy, and a fractured polity, with the autonomous Transnistrian region complicating internal governance and security, even with the EU accession process underway. IOM Moldova’s response to the crisis began with a rapid emergency response and scale-up, focused on strengthening humanitarian border management, supporting safe dignified movement and transit, and meeting the immediate needs of new arrivals during the first few months. Towards the end of 2022, the refugee response pivoted to a focus on the medium to long term – on inclusion, and self-reliance. This included strengthening and stabilizing communities, as well as Government capacities and systems, to enable them to absorb and manage refugee and migrant populations. This dovetailed with IOM’s long-standing focus on Moldovan migration dynamics, including diaspora engagement and migration and development.