Standing in solidarity with the millions forced to flee Ukraine
Three years after the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we remain deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and the lasting impact of Russia’s war of aggression on affected individuals and communities both within Ukraine and across Europe. As of February 2025¹, an estimated 6.3 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded in Europe, with nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s 3.7 million internally displaced persons unable to return to their homes for more than two years.²
Ensuring long-term support for displaced persons
Since the beginning of the war, Eurodiaconia network has been at the forefront of the response. Our members continue to provide emergency assistance as well as holistic support to displaced Ukrainians both across Europe and in Ukraine. This includes access to housing, social services, education, labour market integration, and multipurpose cash assistance, alongside psychosocial support for those affected by the war.³ While the occupation persists, and even in the event of its termination, sustained support measures remain crucial. Moving forward, a shift towards long-term solutions that promote stability and resilience is needed.
The future of Temporary Protection: what is next?
The implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) was a crucial step in ensuring timely access to protection, housing, education, healthcare and employment for refugees fleeing Ukraine. However, with temporary protection set to finish in March 2026, there is currently no EU-level strategy outlining the future status of refugees from Ukraine beyond the last extension. Eurodiaconia stresses the need for a clear and coordinated post-TPD strategy to ensure continued access to protection, legal status, and integration support for those unable to return safely to Ukraine. EU level coordination will be essential to prevent disparities among Member States, avoid legal limbos, and ensure a fair and rights-based approach. Exploring protection statuses within EU law, as well as utilising existing asylum frameworks to facilitate a smooth transition, should be prioritised.
No one left behind: Refugees and Internally Displaced Roma
We must not forget about minorities deeply affected by the war, including Roma refugees and internally displaced Roma communities, who continue to face structural discrimination and barriers to accessing basic rights.⁴
During a study visit to Hungary in November 2024, our member, the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, highlighted serious challenges Ukrainian refugees—particularly Roma—face in accessing housing. Hungary’s limited social housing stock and heavy reliance on NGOs for refugee support have resulted in significant housing insecurity. Additionally, the Hungarian government’s June 2024 decree ending state-funded housing for refugees from western Ukraine has left many, particularly Roma women and children, at risk of homelessness. This context underscores the need to leverage EU-level attention to ensure that Roma refugees are not side-lined, and that post-TPD frameworks guarantee equal treatment and prevent further marginalisation.⁵
Ensuring sustainable support for civil society organisations
Throughout the crisis, civil society and faith-based organizations have played a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid and social inclusion services. However, many of these organizations face financial uncertainty and bureaucratic obstacles in accessing funding. Eurodiaconia urges the European Union and national governments to ensure accessible, long-term funding for civil society organizations engaged in refugee support, while reflecting their frontline experience in the decision-making processes.
Three years into the war, Eurodiaconia stresses the importance of the EU and its Member States remaining committed to our shared values of peace, democracy, and human rights in shaping the post-TPD policies, as well as the need for continued support for those affected by the conflict. As the discussions on the post-TPD scenarios advance, we call for:
- transparent dialogue with civil society organizations, including faith-based actors, to ensure that any transition away from temporary protection safeguards the rights, autonomy and well-being of all displaced individuals
- strengthening the access to legal pathways for refugees, including resettlement and complementary protection mechanisms that provide stability and long-term security
- addressing gaps in the current application of the TPD to prevent administrative and legal obstacles that may leave individuals without status or access to rights and social services due to its inconsistent application across EU Member States.
Before and after: from life to life
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to direct you to an awareness raising campaign from our member, Diakonie ČCE entitled ‘‘Before and after: from life to life’.
As part of their professional development and community building efforts, the campaign, launched last year, recollects the encouraging stories of refugee women navigating a completely new social and labour reality, reflecting on their daily struggles to find their way.
References
¹ https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine?utm
Evangelical Diakonia in Slovakia Supports 2300 Ukrainian Refugees
⁴ Reports highlight serious concerns regarding their treatment in host countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Poland, and Slovakia, where they struggle to access housing, documentation, healthcare, and education. https://www.errc.org/press-releases/human-rights-report-catalogues-structural-discrimination-against-romani-refugees-from-ukraine
⁵ The Helsinki Deaconess Foundation, is actively supporting Roma refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the conflict in Ukraine. In collaboration with local partners, the foundation has provided essential aid to over 130,000 individuals, including food assistance to 71,180 people, evacuation support to 2,635 individuals, and shelter for 600 IDP Roma within Ukraine. https://www.hdl.fi/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roma-Minority-and-Persons-with-Disabilities-as-Refugees-in-Ukraine-and-Moldova_final.pdf
