Year: 2025

To help refugee families meet the additional costs associated with the cold season, UNHCR is providing special winter assistance to some refugee households, particularly ones who were found ineligible for MPCA assistance and their presence in the country has been verified during the recent exercise. 

An SMS notification will be sent soon to inform the households who have been deemed eligible for this specific support. 

About the winter payment: 

• Payment amount: If your household is selected you will receive 920 MDL per month. 

• Total payment: This assistance will be provided as a one-time payment of 4,600 MDL, covering five (5) months of winter support in advance. Payments will be processed this week. 

Please note that a separate SMS is sent in the coming days regarding your household’s eligibility status for the regular monthly cash assistance program, based on the recent reassessments. This winter assistance is a separate and one-off payment. 

For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Green Line (0 800 800 11) or the Cash Helpline (0 800 10823 ). 

OCTOBER 2025

To the refugee community in Moldova. UNHCR wants to inform you about important changes to the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programme.

Due to significant cuts in humanitarian funding, and despite our efforts to reduce costs and raise additional funds, UNHCR is facing a very difficult financial situation. As a result, we are forced to make difficult decisions to ensure we can continue supporting those most in need.

What is changing?

Starting in November 2025, UNHCR will apply further prioritization criteria. This means that some individuals who currently receive cash assistance will no longer receive cash assistance from November onwards:

• Reassessment and verification interviews will be conducted from mid-October through the end of November. This period will allow UNHCR and its partners to re-assess the needs of current beneficiaries.
• The reassessment and verification exercise will be conducted jointly by UNHCR and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

UNHCR, in collaboration with partner organizations Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Diaconia, and Caritas Moldova, will be conducting in-person interviews for all refugees who are currently receiving cash assistance to assess their level of vulnerability and continued eligibility for UNHCR cash support. You will receive an invitation to attend an interview.

All beneficiaries who are currently eligible and successfully verified will receive their October payment by the end of October.

New Arrivals from Ukraine: enrolment interviews for cash assistance for new arrivals will not be conducted during the verification and reassessment period. Enrolment for newcomers is expected to resume in December. Starting again in December, newcomers will receive two months of transitional cash if they are eligible as per more inclusive eligibility criteria, then will undergo a vulnerability assessment to determine whether they meet the criteria to continue receiving cash.

UNHCR understands how difficult this news may be, we recognize the vulnerability of the current beneficiaries, and we deeply regret the negative impact it will have on many families. These changes are necessary to maximize the limited resources available. This is a very difficult step, taken only because of the financial outlook.

Cash changes
What you need to know:

You will receive an SMS with an invitation to attend the re-assessment interview at the closest cash enrollment centre. Interviews will be carried out from mid-October until the end of November 2025.

It is very important that you attend your scheduled interview. The interview will also serve as a verification for continued assistance. If you do not appear for your interview, such that UNHCR is unable to assess your situation and confirm your continued presence in Moldova, you risk losing your cash assistance.

If you are a person with limited mobility and you are unable to approach a Cash Enrolment Centre, please call: 0 800 10 823 to request a home visit.

If you have any questions about your scheduled interview, you may call 0 800 10 823 to get more information from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00.

Please call UNHCR’s Green Line at 080080011 (daily 10:00–18:00; weekends 10:00–14:00) or use the other communication channels listed here https://help.unhcr.org if you require support other than cash assistance.

What to expect in the interviews

The interview is similar to what you have gone through before to be eligible for cash assistance. We will ask you a series of questions to gain a deeper understanding of your family’s needs and capacities as they relate to household composition, accommodation, health, socio-economic status, and specific needs. This information is vital in assessing your eligibility for cash assistance. Please note that all the information collected during these interviews will be kept private. Trained staff from protection desks will be available to discuss any sensitive information in a confidential space.

Be ready. Please approach cash enrolment centres with all your family members, including children, and bring any essential documents you have, such as any proof of enrollment issued by UNHCR, ID document provided by the Government of Moldova, national passport (either biometric or internal), national ID card, medical reports (if any), disability certificate (if any, even if expired), etc.

Eligibility and Targeting Criteria

Eligibility will be determined using a vulnerability scorecard. You and your family will be interviewed based on a set of questions, which will provide information about the socio-economic and protection situation of the household.

There is no automatic inclusion or exclusion based solely on a category, our assessment is done case by case and looks at compounded situations in the family. However, Moldovan citizens (including individuals with Moldovan-dual nationality) will no longer be eligible.

After the interview

After the assessment, you will receive an SMS notification at the end of November informing you whether you are eligible or not for continued cash assistance.

If you are found eligible, you will receive cash assistance in November and December. The assistance will be provided to households with the highest levels of vulnerability.

A reconsideration mechanism will be available for people found ineligible. Beneficiaries who receive exclusion notifications by SMS will have the opportunity to request a review of their case two weeks after receiving the message.

Please note that due to extremely limited funding and the high vulnerability threshold applied, the likelihood of being re-included in the programme is expected to be very low.

We strongly encourage all households to plan ahead in case they are no longer eligible for assistance under the revised programme.

UNHCR recognizes the continued needs and vulnerabilities of people who will fall out of the cash programme. Information, support and referrals will continue to be available at Protection desks in each cash enrollment center.  

We are committed to ensuring support for the most vulnerable individuals benefiting from UNHCR cash assistance within our existing capacity, and we appreciate your cooperation during this transition.

If you have not received an SMS yet about your interview, please rest assured that we will be contacting everyone for an assessment.

Thank you for your understanding.

Returning home is a personal decision that should be fully informed and take place in conditions of safety and dignity. The Ukraine is Home website was created for Ukrainians abroad and in Ukraine. The platform provides refugees and internally displaced Ukrainians with information about their rights and continued stay in host countries or communities, addresses questions and explains opportunities regarding voluntary return, and promotes access to the support needed to recover and rebuild.

Check Ukraine is Home platform for information on the right to continued stay in the host country, visits to Ukraine and how they affect temporary protection for over 20 European countries.

If you are a refugee, asylum seeker, or stateless person and need an individual consultation, we invite you to attend the organized reception.

? Address: Community Center, Cahul City, Păcii Street, 6
? When: May 6th (Tuesday), from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM
? Prior registration is required. Unfortunately, without a prior appointment, we will not be able to assist you.

You can come to discuss your individual situation. It is important for us to hear your feedback on our services and those of the organizations we work with, as well as understand how we can help you. We are here to provide information, guidance, and connect you with the necessary services.

? We are here to listen to you and offer support.

❗ Please note: Financial assistance-related questions will not be addressed during the reception. For these matters, please contact the toll-free helpline at 0 800 108 23 or fill out the form using this link: https://enketo.unhcr.org/x/SKJTcxKF

? All humanitarian assistance is provided free of charge and confidentially.

? Register for reception: https://enketo.unhcr.org/x/ddk7DYBh

Please be informed that starting from April 17^th, 2025, the UNHCR Cash Enrolment Centre in Balti will operate at a new location:

No. 7, Konev Street, Balti.

We look forward to welcoming you at the new address. For any questions, please contact us through the HotLine number 0 800 108 23.

Easter Holidays: Cash Enrolment Centres and HotLine – closed on 21^st and 28^th of April 2025

During the public Easter holidays, the Cash Enrolment Centres and the HotLine (0 800 108 23) will be closed on 21^st and 28^th of April 2025.

If your child turns 7 years old on or before 1 September 2025, they are eligible to be enrolled in school. Enrolment is free of charge and does not require an entrance examination. 

The method of enrolment depends on your place of residence: 

• If you reside in Chișinău municipality or one of its suburban localities, enrolment is carried out online via the platform: https://escoala.chisinau.md 

• If you live in other areas of Moldova, enrolment is carried out in person, by submitting the necessary documents directly to the school. 

‼️ Important ‼️ 

• If you have newly arrived in Moldova, school enrollment is possible on a rolling basis, outside of the standard enrollment time frame, subject to availability of places in schools. 

• If you are already living in Moldova, you are kindly requested to respect the official enrolment deadlines.  

Phase I: 3 March – 30 April 2025 
For children living within the school’s catchment area – the child’s registered home address must match the area officially assigned to that school.  

Phase II: 19 – 30 May 2025 
For children who were not enrolled during Phase I or who have recently arrived in the Republic of Moldova. 

Exceptions: 
Children who were not enrolled during either of the above phases may be registered between 20 and 30 August 2025, based on an individual request, and subject to the availability of places. 

Required documents: 

• The child’s birth certificate 

• The identity document of the parent or legal representative 

• The temporary residence certificate  

• The child’s medical certificate – either a health/vaccination record from Ukraine or, if not available, a medical certificate issued by a licensed health care provider in the Republic of Moldova. 

If you do not currently hold all required documents, your child may still be enrolled. Missing documents may be submitted at a later date. 

For further information or assistance, please contact the headteacher where you intend to enrol your child, or visit the official website of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova: https://mec.gov.md 

We know that cash assistance is an essential support for many of you, and we want to share an important update.  

Starting 1^st of April 2025, the monthly cash assistance transfer value will change from 2.200 to 1,625 MDL per person/month. 

Due to funding challenges, we have had to make this adjustment to ensure that all refugees currently receiving support can continue in the programme, rather than reducing the number of people assisted and risking further hardship or exposure to harm. 

We understand that this change may be difficult, and we remain committed to standing with refugees in Moldova. 

UNHCR will continue exploring ways to provide support through other programmes and assistance. 

If you have any questions, please contact our helpline at 080010823. We are here to help. 

UNHCR is aware of concerns regarding the expiration dates printed on prepaid bank cards. We would like to reassure you that there is no action required on your part to extend the validity of your current card.

• Automatic Extension: Your card will be automatically extended, ensuring uninterrupted access to assistance.
• No Center Visits Needed: Even if the date has passed, your card will remain fully operational, and you don’t need to visit any center to change it.

This measure ensures that you will continue to access UNHCR the financial assistance without any interruptions.