Several Ukrainian refugee centers have been closed in Moldova due to cost-cutting measures for their maintenance.
This was announced by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic, Aleksey Buzu, to Radio Moldova.
According to the government official, depending on the center's capacity and the number of people residing in it, Moldova is proposing a transition to communal housing.
"No refugee will be left without an alternative on the streets. These centers are temporary, and we have situations where they are managed by people who lack the necessary training because they were created in a crisis situation," Buzu noted.
He clarified that if a center is designed, for example, for 200 people, and only 60 refugees are staying there, certain expenses cannot be reduced solely due to a decrease in capacity, especially during the cold months when the entire facility needs to be heated.
"That's why we are trying to approach optimization responsibly, consulting with refugees and seeking alternative options for them," Buzu added.
The minister reminded that currently, the network of temporary accommodation centers in Moldova is funded by development partners, while other types of expenses, mainly related to medical assistance, are covered by the state budget.
