Attachments
Highlights
On 24 February, the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform in Romania in collaboration with the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), marked four years of the refugee response at UNHCR’s Community Centre for refugees at RomExpo in Bucharest. The event brought together over 100 participants, including senior state and government officials, the Diplomatic Corps and Refugee Response Plan (RRP) partners. Keynote speakers included Ms. Diana Punga, State Counsellor within the Presidential Administration who delivered a message from H.E The President, Mr. Dragoș Pîslaru, Minister of Investments and European Projects, Ms. Luminița Odobescu, State Counsellor, Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Dr. Raed Arafat, State Secretary, Head of DSU - Ministry of Interior, H.E. Mr. Ihor Prokopchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania, and leaders of EDNAE and ACUM refugee-led organisations. The UNHCR Representative and InterAgency Refugee Coordinator presented the Mid-Cycle Review of the Refugee Response Plan 2025–2026, noting that 42 partners reached 73,000 people in 2025 and outlining priorities for 2026, while appealing for continued donor support donor support for the critical needs of refugees which remain unmet. Ambassadors and diplomats delivered statements highlighting their countries and EU support to refugees and commended Romania’s sustained solidarity. Government and local government officials, UN Agencies and other partners also delivered statements of commitment and support.
The marking of four years of the refugee response received media coverage, with the UNHCR Representative providing interviews in the lead up to and on the day to television, radio, print and online platforms (1, 2, 3), underscoring the achievements and challenges in Romania’s response to the Ukraine refugee situation. Social media coverage across UNHCR Romania and its partners further amplified key messages, highlighting both solidarity and ongoing needs of refugees.
On 25 February, a delegation from the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee visited UNHCR’s Community Centre at RomExpo. Accompanied by H.E. Mr. Uffe A. Balslev, Ambassador of Denmark to Romania, the delegation was received by Mr. Pablo Zapata, UNHCR Representative in Romania and the UNHCR team. The visit provided an opportunity to see first-hand how refugees access essential services at the centre. The delegation joined a creative workshop for women and girls and took part in group discussions with refugees on key needs and challenges.
During the past week, UNHCR engaged key national and international partners to strengthen cooperation on pressing protection challenges in Romania. On 24 February, the UNHCR Representative, alongside colleagues from other UN agencies, met H.E. Ms. Anna-Carin Svensson, Swedish Ambassador-at-Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons to discuss Romania’s anti-trafficking efforts, focusing on prevention needs and vulnerabilities identified through UN work with children, refugees and migrants.
On 27 February, marking World NGO Day, the UN Representatives and Heads of Offices met Ms. Diana Punga, State Adviser at the Presidency, to strengthen structured cooperation in supporting civil society in Romania, stemming from good practices in refugee protection, migration, public health and child protection.