Bratislava, 19 May 2023 – Displaced people from Ukraine who have found refuge in Slovakia will continue to receive critically important assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2023. The IOM will provide assistance in the areas of mental health, psychological and social support, improved housing and awareness-raising on migrant protection thanks to financial support from the Government of Japan.

Since 24 February 2022, more than 1.4 million refugees from Ukraine, including non-EU and EU citizens, have entered Slovakia due to the war in Ukraine. Over 115,000 have requested temporary refuge in Slovakia due to the ongoing conflict.

In 2022, the IOM, with the contribution of the Government of Japan, provided direct assistance to displaced people from Ukraine at border crossings and in collective centres. In addition, the IOM delivered critical assistance in temporary accommodations, material aid, including medical equipment, and mental health support.

“In 2022 the generous donation from the people of Japan enabled the IOM to provide immediate assistance to 10,000 people who were fleeing the war in Ukraine,” explains Valon Halimi, Chief of the IOM Mission in Slovakia.

In 2023 the IOM will build on the 2022 activities to identify and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.

This year, the IOM will support the capacities of professionals in national organisations specialising in mental health care and social work. The IOM will provide them with a manual on leveraging community assistance and engagement in mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, the IOM will present the methodology of the manual and its practical use at workshops for professionals, both Ukrainian and Slovak nationals.

An essential component of this IOM programme is raising awareness among Ukrainian refugees and citizens of other countries about the Mental Health Helpline and distributing information materials to promote their protection. The IOM also raises awareness about gender-based violence, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse and prevention of human trafficking.

The IOM will also respond to the current needs and provide temporary housing support for the most vulnerable people, including the elderly, disabled individuals and mothers with young children. The IOM’s housing programme also offers support services to help clients become independent. These include integration assistance and language skills development to acquire employment and enter the workforce.

The financial support from the Government of Japan enables the IOM to collect data on the mobility, urgent current needs and intentions of displaced people from Ukraine. Data is collected through the IOM official Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) mechanism. The survey results contribute to better targeting of assistance and other IOM programmes, enabling them to respond effectively to the needs of displaced people in specific locations. The latest DTM report from 15 February to 31 March can be accessed at https://dtm.iom.int/slovakia.

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More information:

If you are interested in additional information or an interview with Chief of the IOM Mission to Slovakia Mr. Valon Halimi, please contact: Michal Milla, IOM Slovakia – Media & Communication Unit, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +421 908 714 067.

Learn more about IOM Slovakia assistance to people from Ukraine: www.iom.sk/ukraine.

Find more information on IOM Global website: Ukraine: IOM Response 2022-2023.

About IOM:

International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an international inter-governmental organization established in 1951 with the aim of helping displaced persons, refugees and migrants in Europe. In 2016 IOM joined the UN system as the UN migration agency. At present IOM activities cover a wide range of migration issues in more than 150 countries in the world. As the leading international organization in the field of migration IOM works closely with governments and migrants and it is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. For more information visit www.iom.int.

IOM has been active in Slovakia since 1996. IOM Bratislava implements activities in the field of migrant integration, assisted voluntary returns to migrants’ countries of origin and assistance upon their return, fight against the trafficking in human beings, coordination of the activities of the European Migration Network, and humanitarian transfer of refugees. As part of these and other areas IOM carries out different activities – providing services to migrants, conducting research, raising awareness about migration and migrant integration through information campaigns, implementing educational and capacity-building activities for key stakeholders. For more information visit www.iom.sk/en.

Since the first days of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, IOM has been providing people fleeing to Slovakia with direct assistance at border points of entry and dedicated centres and remote counseling. Furthermore, they received support with temporary accommodation, material and food humanitarian aid, and mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, IOM builds capacities of frontline workers in counter-trafficking and in the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. To support the long-term inclusion of Ukrainian nationals in Slovakia, IOM provides them with legal, social and job counseling, organizes Slovak language courses and provides other assistance. For more information visit www.iom.sk/ukraine.

IOM priority in all of its programs is providing direct assistance to migrants.

With the support of:

IOM response to Ukraine has been generously funded by the Government of Japan.