Author
Asylum applicants whose application was moved by the territorial body of the SMS to the preliminary examination stage has access to the following reception conditions:
- temporary employment, training, and medical care in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Ukraine;
- accommodation with relatives, in a hotel, renting a dwelling or using accommodation provided in a temporary accommodation centre for refugees;
- free legal aid in accordance with the established procedure.
The listed set of reception conditions remains the same throughout the whole asylum procedure. There is no requirement in the law that only asylum seekers who lack resources are entitled to reception conditions, nor is there a specific moment in the asylum process when an asylum seeker must declare any financial resources they might have. Additionally, asylum seekers are not required to contribute to the cost of reception.
One of the concerns is the lack of immediate access to the reception conditions upon making an application, as until the application is lodged, asylum seekers do not have the MSID which confirms their legal stay in Ukraine. Taking into account the instances of ungrounded refusal of the SMS to accept asylum applications, persons willing to make an application are deprived of reception and state services, leaving them extremely vulnerable.
In addition, asylum seekers not residing in TAC are deprived of material assistance, such as food, clothes, and hygiene kits. Participants in the 2019 UNHCR survey as well as the R2P-HIAS 2022 report emphasise problems in getting an MSID recognised by governmental institutions, as well as poor access to social or medical services, the labour market, and housing.[1]
In the absence of any state assistance for refugees and asylum seekers, UNHCR provides assistance to asylum seekers in the form of cash assistance, business and training grants, and courses in Ukrainian languages. For instance, during the initial months of 2022, UNHCR identified increased vulnerabilities among this population and chose to provide blanket cash assistance to all registered refugees and asylum seekers for six months. The scope of UNHCR assistance fluctuates annually or semi-annually. In addition, UNHCR and its partners, such as ROKADA, continue to offer additional forms of support. These include educational grants for school supplies, clothing, or funds for laptops and tablets, as well as in-kind assistance like food and hygiene kits, and coverage for medical services and medication. In general, the assistance provided covers the basic needs of beneficiaries.
[1] UNHCR, Ukraine 2019 Joint Needs Assessment, 2019, available in Ukrainian here; R2P&HIAS, Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Ukraine Addressing Protection Risks During Wartime, 05 April 2023, available here.