On 15 February, the Czech government appointed the current Human Rights Commissioner, Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, as the national coordinator for the adaptation and integration of people fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine who come to the Czech Republic. Laurenčíková will lead the strategy group, coordinate ministries, and strengthen collaboration with various associations and the non-governmental sector to ensure that the adaptation and integration process is high-quality across the regions and runs uniformly. She will concentrate on interdisciplinary collaboration between social services, schools, health care services, and security units, and ensure coordination between state actors and non-governmental organizations.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic has issued over 488,200 temporary protection visas to people from Ukraine, most of whom are minors and women. At the beginning of March 2022, the Czech government declared a state of emergency to control the influx of those fleeing the war, and a Central Crisis Team managed the approach. The Crisis Team will continue its work, but crisis management is no longer needed. After a year of work, it will concentrate more on the adaptation of those granted temporary protection.

The strategy group comprising representatives of ministries and other institutions will concentrate on housing, education, employment, and the conditions for vulnerable groups, such as people living with disabilities, seriously ill people, or seniors. The group will also address support for the gradual relocation of those under protection from temporary accommodations to regular housing and establishing programs for children and youth.

A recent survey by the PAQ Research agency shows that about 10% of boys and girls from Ukraine are not attending primary school in the Czech Republic, and Czech-language instruction for adults from Ukraine is insufficient. There is also a lack of support for protected persons from Ukraine who are seeking housing and jobs. The approach taken by schools towards pupils from Ukraine is not uniform, and there is a lack of assistants in the schools who are Ukrainian.

On 1 April, the Interior Ministry will assume management of the network of assistance centers for those from Ukraine seeking protection, which will no longer be run by Regional Authorities. New arrivals will still be able to apply for temporary protection in all regions. The standard offices will handle applications for temporary protection and aid those from Ukraine with finding accommodation. The Interior Ministry will provide nonstop operations in three locations where people without accommodation will be able to sleep and wait for the standard workplaces to open. The ministry will publish a list of all the workplaces where it will be possible to apply for temporary protection, deal with accommodation or spend the night, including their office hours and addresses, on its website during March.

In conclusion, the Czech Republic is taking steps to adapt and integrate people fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine. The appointment of Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková as the national coordinator for adaptation and integration, the concentration of the strategy group on housing, education, employment, and the conditions for vulnerable groups, and the Interior Ministry’s assumption of management of the network of assistance centers are significant moves towards providing high-quality support for those in need. The successful adaptation and integration of those who have found a safe harbor from the war in the Czech Republic requires the coordination of state actors with non-governmental organizations and interdisciplinary collaboration between social services, schools, health care services, and security units.

Article by Prague Forum