Analysis of the social assistance of the Slovak Republic for the refugees from Ukraine

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Analysis of the social assistance of the Slovak Republic for the refugees from Ukraine

Vansac Peter, Professor, Head of Department; Gul'asova Monika, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work Bratislava Institute of bl. M. D. Trcku

The war in Ukraine that broke out on 24th February 2022 has set in motion a number of people in Ukraine who have sought help in neighbouring countries. Since Slovakia is an immediate neighbour of Ukraine, it is logical that people from Ukraine, especially mothers with children and elderly people, sought help in our country. State, church and voluntary institutions in Slovakia responded to this situation very promptly and helpfully. The border crossings Ubl'a, Vysne Nemecke and Vel'ke Slemence became places where the departees from Ukraine could find safety, welcome and humanitarian aid. The aim of our research study is to analyze the social assistance for departees from Ukraine, based on the available statistical data in the Slovak Republic. In the research we analyze the number of: departees from Ukraine have crossed the borders of the Slovak Republic, refugees applied for temporary shelter and accommodation, children of refugees placed in schools, refugees employed. We also analyze social benefits paid to refugees from Ukraine. As a research method, we chose to analyse statistical data regarding the departees from Ukraine. The research study was carried out on the basis of available data processed by the Government of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic. In addition, we relied on data processed by the non-profitorganization Centre for Ethnicity Research and other non- for the first 3 months.

Аналіз соціальної допомоги біженцям з України в Словацьку Республіку

Вансач Петер, професор; Гуляшова Моніка, доцент, Університет охорони здоров'я та соціальної роботи Св.Єлизавети в Братиславі

Війна в Україні, яка почалася 24 лютого 2022 року, сколихнула українців, які шукали допомоги в сусідніх країнах. Оскільки Словаччина є безпосереднім сусідом України, логічно, що громадяни України, особливо матері з дітьми та люди похилого віку, шукали допомоги саме в Словаччині. Державні, церковні та волонтерські інституції Словаччини відреагували на цю ситуацію дуже оперативно та якіснео. Прикордонні переходи Убля, Вишне Нємецьке та Велике Слеменце стали місцями, де біженці з України могли знайти безпеку, гостинність та гуманітарну допомогу. Метою нашого дослідження є аналіз соціальної допомоги особам, які виїхали з України з початку вторгнення, на основі наявних статистичних даних у Словацькій Республіці. У дослідженні ми аналізуємо кількість: вибулих з України, які перетнули кордон Словацької Республіки; біженців, які звернулися за тимчасовим притулком та розміщенням; дітей біженців, яких влаштували до шкіл; біженців, яких було працевлаштування. Також аналізуємо соціальні виплати біженцям з України. Як метод дослідження ми обрали аналіз статистичних даних щодо вибулих з України. Дослідження проводилося на основі наявних даних, оброблених Урядом Словацької Республіки, Міністерством внутрішніх справ Словацької Республіки. Крім того, ми спиралися на дані, оброблені некомерційною організацією «Центр досліджень етнічності» та іншими некомерційними організаціями. Дані дають нам інформацію за перші 3 місяці.

Ключові слова: тимчасовий притулок, статус біженця, соціальна допомога, Словаччина.

The war in Ukraine that broke out on 24th February 2022 has set in motion a number of people in Ukraine who have sought help in neighbouring countries. Since Slovakia is an immediate neighbour of Ukraine, it is logical that people from Ukraine, especially mothers with children and elderly people, sought help in our country. State, church and voluntary institutions in Slovakia responded to this situation very promptly and helpfully. The border crossings Ubl'a, Vysne Nemecke and Vetke Slemence became places where the departees from Ukraine could find safety, welcome and humanitarian aid.

People who fled the war from Ukraine on the basis of Act No. 480/2002 Coll. on Asylum and on Amendments to Certain Acts in Article 13(2)(j) could obtain the status of refugee, and on the basis of this status they also obtained "temporary shelter, which is granted for the purpose of protecting foreigners from war, endemic violence, the consequences of a humanitarian disaster, or persistent or mass violations of human rights in their country of origin." [7]. The Government of the Slovak Republic adopted Resolution No. 185 on the proposal to declare the provision of temporary refuge in accordance with the Council (EU) Implementing Decision of 4th March 2022, where it approves this decision, simultaneously declaring who is considered to be a national of Ukraine and also determining the beginning of the provision of temporary refuge. Pursuant to Act No. 480/2002 Coll. on Asylum, Section 31(1)(c), the following shall be deemed to be a national of Ukraine - persons, who:

Accommodation

Accommodation was provided to 45,259 leavers: of these, private accommodation was provided for 40,552 persons, state accommodation for 3,702 persons and emergency accommodation for 895 persons (Table 2) (Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the residence of foreigners defines three types of residence, namely temporary residence, permanent residence and tolerated residence) [4].

Table 2. Accommodation for refugees from Ukraine

Source: Report on the current situation in the context of the war in Ukraine

Number of employed exiles from Ukraine Of the 9 342 employed (Chart 3) Ukrainian expatriates, the following are the most common occupations: assembly workers 22.48%; support workers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport 18.61%; cleaners and helpers 8.66%; stationary machinery and equipment operators 8.45%; food preparation assistants 6,75%.

Number of children of refugees from Ukraine enrolled in schools In Chart 4, we present data on the children of school leavers on three dates - 15th May 2022, 24th May 2022 and 31st May 2022.

Chart 3. Number of employed exiles from Ukraine Source: report on the current situation regarding the war in Ukraine

Most children are enrolled in primary schools (more than 7.5 thousand, 73%). The children with accommodation allowance are aggregated in the groups of Kindergarten (3-5yrs), Primary (6-14yrs) and Secondary (15-18yrs). The data are as of 1st May 2022. The lower number of primary school pupils with an allowance may be due to an age shift in aggregation or a time shift. There were 10,448 children enrolled in schools as of 31st May 2023 [4].

Chart 4 Number of children by type of school and date Source: report on the current situation regarding the war in Ukraine

Financial support for refugees from Ukraine Assistance in material need includes: material need allowance, dependent child allowance, protection allowance (Table 3)

Table 3 Material hardship assistance for refugees from Ukraine

Source: report on the current situation regarding the war in Ukraine

Discussion

Number of departees from Ukraine arriving on the territory of the Slovak Republic. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24th February 2022, there has been an enormous influx at the border crossings with Ukraine. According to the Report on the current situation in connection with the war in Ukraine, prepared by the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, a total of 253 263 departees crossed the border crossings (for 3 months from 24th February 2022 to 24th June 2022) - Ubl'a, Vysne Nemecke and Vel'ke Slemence. Most of the departees only migrated through Slovakia. According to the above document, in 3 months there were 173 582 persons. After crossing the border, each person who crossed the border from Ukraine received food and, if they needed it, temporary accommodation. Basic humanitarian assistance was provided by both governmental and non-governmental organizations [2, 10].

For example, social work and nursing students from the Institute of Bl. M. D. Trcku in Michalovce, University of Health and Social Work of St. Elizabeth in Bratislava on the border Vysne Nemecke in cooperation with the Order of Malta in Slovakia in continuous operation carried out assistance services for the departees from Ukraine - providing refreshments, help with registration, arranging transport, sim cards and others. In the “Hot spot” in Michalovce, students in cooperation with doctors provided nursing care and helped to manage the refugees' health problems - headache, abdominal pain, blood pressure, breathing problems, diabetes, minor injuries and others [6].

Overview of refugees who crossed the border of the Slovak Republic from Ukraine and requested temporary refuge. Chart 1 demonstrates that from the outbreak of war on 24th February 2022 to 24 th June 2022, 79 781 refugees from Ukraine have applied for temporary refuge in Slovakia. Temporary refuge is granted in Slovakia according to Act No 480/2002 Coll. on asylum and on amendment and supplementation of certain acts.

People crossing the border from Ukraine received leaflets from the Ministry of the Interior on how to apply for temporary shelter. Temporary refuge (or temporary protection) is an effective means for the European Union to respond to a sudden influx of people from a neighbouring war-torn country. It also makes it possible to effectively spread the burden of hosting large numbers of people across all EU Member States, as currently people fleeing Ukraine have the option of choosing the EU Member State in which to apply for temporary protection. According to the Centre for Research on Ethnicity, the current situation suggests that persons with temporary protection will remain in the territory of the Slovak Republic/EU in the medium and long term, and therefore solutions to their residency status need to be brought to bear on the need for successful integration [1].

According to the Statistical overview of legal and illegal migration of foreigners in Slovakia, in addition to temporary refuge, the Slovak Republic has granted temporary, permanent and tolerated residence to 156 881 citizens from Ukraine on the basis of Act No 404/2011 Coll. on the residence of foreigners and on amending and supplementing certain acts (see Table No.1) [8]. The Centre for Ethnicity Research states that tolerated stay is a type of stay that is unsuitable for persons who are expected to be integrated into Slovak society to a certain extent, with a view to the assumption of a medium - to long-term stay in Slovakia. Since people fleeing Ukraine can reasonably be expected to stay in Slovakia for more than 90 days, and it is advisable to assume a period of more than one year, it is necessary to allow people with the status of refugees to move to another, more stable type of residence, ideally temporary residence [1].

Accommodation. Based on the statistical data on accommodation of refugees from Ukraine, the Slovak Republic provided accommodation to 45 259 refugees in 4 months.

1. Emergency accommodation for the first 10 days, which was solved in large-capacity premises at the level of district towns (in gymnasiums, dormitories, etc.).

2. Medium-term housing in various government facilities (hostels, recreational facilities, etc.) and private facilities (hotels, guest houses, etc.).

3. Long-term housing (mostly private rentals in houses and flats).

The provision of an allowance for accommodation of persons granted temporary refuge status is regulated by the amendment to the Asylum Act effective from 7th June 2022. The allowance is paid to accommodation providers by municipalities from funds transferred from the Ministry of the Interior. The details and procedure for the payment of the accommodation allowance are regulated by the amended Regulation № 218/2022 of the Government of the Slovak Republic. As of 1st October 2022, the amount of the allowance has been increased and will be paid until 31st May 2023 [3].

Number of children of refugees from Ukraine enrolled in schools. Chart 4 demonstrates the number of children of refugees from Ukraine enrolled in Slovak schools. The data are as of 15th May 2022, 24th May 2022 and 31st May 2022. Optimistically, the placement of children in schools is on an upward trend.

1. recognition of qualifications,

2. language barriers,

3. the inability to do business - Ukrainian expatriates are prevented from doing so by Law № 404/2011 on the residence of foreigners, which, in Article 59(5), prohibits persons from doing business during the period of validity of the tolerated stay [1].

In the first two months, the state provided material hardship benefits (their real payment took place only in April, two months after the outbreak of the war). At the same time, free school meals were provided for children in material need. Since May 2022, the system of paying social benefits and providing various other allowances has been taken over by international organizations (UNHCR) UNICEF (see Table № 3) [1].

1. Integration of people from Ukraine.

2. Information for Ukrainians coming to Slovakia.

3. Information on the accommodation allowance for foreigners under the Asylum Act.

4. Report on the current situation in connection with the war in Ukraine.

5. Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No.185 of 16 March 2022 on the proposal to declare the provision of temporary refuge in accordance with Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022.

6. Vansac P., Gulyashova M. Therapeutic treatment of patients in palliative care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nation's Health. 2022. № 2 (68). 22-25.

7. Act № 480/2002 Coll. on Asylum and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts

8. Act № 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Aliens and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts

9. Detske skupiny.

1. Integration of people from Ukraine.

2. Information for Ukrainians coming to Slovakia.

3. Information on the accommodation allowance for foreigners under the Asylum Act.

4. Report on the current situation in connection with the war in Ukraine.

5. Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No.185 of 16 March 2022 on the proposal to declare the provision of temporary refuge in accordance with Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022.

6. Vansac P., Gulyashova M. (2022). Therapeutic treatment of patients in palliative care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nation's Health, 2 (68), 22-25.

7. Act №480/2002 Coll. on Asylum and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts

8. Act № 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Aliens and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts

9. Detske skupiny.

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