The Czech Interior Ministry has taken over the responsibility of operation and coordination of assistance centers for Ukrainian refugees from regional authorities. The move will not affect the functioning of the centers, and refugees from Ukraine who were driven from their homes by the Russian military attack will still be able to apply for temporary protection and arrange accommodation. The Regional Assistance Centers for Ukraine (KACPU) will continue to provide these services to those in need. The Czech Interior Minister, Vit Rakusan, has assured the public that nothing fundamental has changed for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and they will still be able to apply for temporary protection in all regions.

To better accommodate refugees, new temporary shelters will be set up in Brno, Ostrava, and Prague. These shelters will be used by those waiting for the opening of a KACPU or to be granted temporary protection. The move comes as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has left millions of people displaced, with over 8 million Ukrainian refugees registered across Europe since the war began. Additionally, 5.4 million people in Ukraine have been internally displaced.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) noted in late February that the war had claimed the lives of at least 8,000 civilians, and the real number of victims of Russian aggression was probably much higher. The Czech Republic has already issued more than half a million temporary protection visas to people fleeing Ukraine since the start of the war. These visas give refugees access to public health insurance, education, and the labor market. While some refugees have returned home or continued to another country, an estimated 300,000 remain in the Czech Republic.

The move by the Czech Interior Ministry to take over responsibility for the operation and coordination of assistance centers for Ukrainian refugees is an important step in providing support to those in need. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has left many people displaced and in need of assistance, and the Czech Republic has been playing an important role in providing temporary protection to those seeking refuge. The new temporary shelters will help to better accommodate refugees, and the continued operation of the KACPU will ensure that those fleeing the war in Ukraine can still access the support they need.

Article by Prague Forum