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Context
At the end of 2021 – prior to the war in Ukraine – 336 refugees and asylum seekers were recorded in Estonia. Following the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, 58,210 refugees from Ukraine applied for asylum, temporary protection, or similar national protection schemes in Estonia. As of 30 June 2024, there were 33,882 persons with active temporary protection status and 6,021 persons with subsidiary protection status from Ukraine. Despite the sudden and massive increase in the number of refugees, Estonia has taken a series of measures to promote refugees’ swift access to rights. For instance, Estonia has the highest number of refugee children from Ukraine who are enrolled in local schools.
About this report: to better understand the protection situation and need of refugees from Ukraine in Estonia, UNHCR, in collaboration with the Estonian Refugee Council, has conducted a protection monitoring exercise.3 Between May and October 2023, 621 refugees were interviewed (first round). After the launch of a revised questionnaire in October 2023, 228 interviews were conducted – until March 2024 (second round). This report presents the key findings of interviews conducted between May and October 2023, with a focus on access to documentation, employment, and healthcare. Where relevant, the analysis has been complemented with the results of interviews conducted between October 2023 and March 2024.