“The need for help in a military crisis is enormous and it is very important that we provide much-needed help to those fleeing Putin’s war. In Estonia, too, we have already made significant expenses for the reception of Ukrainian war refugees, which can now be covered from the reserve,” said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “Due to the changed security situation, we need to prepare a supplementary budget that takes into account the long-term costs of both direct and large-scale national defence, as well as costs related to refugees. The government will continue to discuss these financial needs.”
According to Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani, the war in Ukraine is showing no signs of abating, and in order to continue to provide comprehensive assistance to war refugees and ensure our national security in the current crisis, the decision of the government to cover essential costs was the only possible step. “This means a more flexible and faster procedure for temporary protection, which is undoubtedly necessary in the current difficult situation. Next, we need to prepare a supplementary budget, where it is also necessary to make longer-term decisions,” Jaani noted.
On the basis of the decision in principle, the Ministry of Social Affairs will be reimbursed for accommodation expenses related to war refugees. The Social Insurance Board will be reimbursed for the costs of organising the reception of refugees and the payment of benefits, allowances, and social services. Expenses for the accommodation of war refugees are also covered to local governments through the Social Insurance Board.
The Ministry of Education and Research will be reimbursed for the costs of basic, general, and vocational education. “It is our duty to provide children who are refugees with the opportunity to continue their education – the state will cover the costs of Ukrainian children entering our education system. I understand that this is a big challenge for the education system, but the whole field of education has expressed strong solidarity with Ukraine,” said the Minister of Education and Research Liina Kersna.
The Ministry of Culture will be reimbursed for the costs related to Estonian language learning and the adaptation programme.
Local governments will be reimbursed for the costs of providing emergency care to war refugees for the period from 24 February to 30 April.
The Ministry of the Interior will be reimbursed for expenses related to the procedure for issuing personal identification codes and granting temporary protection for refugees.
More than 3.3 million people have fled Putin’s war in Ukraine. In addition to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine, Estonia has become one of the destinations for war refugees. According to the Police and Border Guard Board, 17,819 war refugees arrived in Estonia from 27 February to 16 March. 6,067 people have used Estonia for transit. There are at least 8,642 children among the refugees. Mostly women and children fleeing the war arrive in Estonia.
On 11 March, the Police and Border Guard Board launched a plan to deal with the mass immigration emergency, and the headquarters was set up in co-operation with several state agencies to help war refugees arriving from Ukraine more smoothly. The number of war refugees is large enough that the normal organisation of work and resources of the agencies are no longer enough to help them all. Ukrainian citizens who have fled the war and their family members can apply for temporary protection in Estonia or another member state of the European Union. After applying for temporary protection, Ukrainian war refugees receive the same rights as local residents – for example, the right to study or work and thus receive health insurance benefits. At present, more than 1,000 people who have fled the war have applied for temporary protection in Estonia.
In addition to the state, Estonian people, companies, and organisations are providing assistance to Ukraine.
