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Since February 2022, the escalation of the war in Ukraine has seen a sharp increase in people fleeing hostilities and seeking protection in Slovakia: more than 2.2 million Ukrainians and third-country nationals (TCNs) in need of international protection have crossed the border into Slovakia,1 of whom 80 percent are women and children.
Refugees from Ukraine include elderly people, people with disabilities and those in need of urgent medical care. The Slovak government has generously kept its borders open, and national, regional and local authorities have responded quickly to the large number of refugees arriving. Local communities have been welcoming, and humanitarian organizations, civil society, the private sector and local volunteers have provided significant support at border reception points and in urban areas, complementing government-led efforts.
Although the country has a favorable protection environment for refugees, significant challenges remain in areas such as long-term accommodation, education, employment, livelihoods and access to quality health care, especially for people with disabilities and serious underlying medical conditions. Moreover, people with special needs may face additional barriers that prevent them from fully enjoying their rights and receiving the services they need. Although people with disabilities have the same basic needs as other refugees, they often face barriers in receiving the support, special attention and targeted interventions they need. For refugee children with disabilities, the situation is even more difficult due to limited access to education, health care, child protection and social protection services. Their families need additional support to care for their children and to receive appropriate support.
Within the framework of the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the situation in Ukraine and specifically within the scope of the Slovak RRP, and following the recommendations of Task Force 2 focusing on the rights of refugees with disabilities in the Protection and Inclusion Working Group under the umbrella of the Refugee Coordination Forum (RCF), the Inter-Agency Multisectoral Needs Assessment Team conducted an annex analysis of the Multisectoral Needs Assessment 3 (MSNA) to be carried out in Slovakia in 2023.
Based on the focused analysis of the MSNA, the report provides an overview of the situation and needs of Ukrainian refugees with disabilities and their families who fled to Slovakia due to the ongoing conflict in their country of origin. The analysis is presented sector-wise based on information collected during MSNA 2023 and complemented with information from secondary sources such as focus group discussions and previous analyses.