El Gobierno de España ha dado protección a 199.000 personas huidas de Ucrania en los dos años de guerra

The Government of Spain has given protection to 199,000 people fleeing Ukraine in the two years of warThe Ministry of Social Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, wants to show its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, coinciding with the second anniversary of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. “There are ephemeris that it hurts to remember, especially when they are as present as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Spain stands firm with the Ukrainian people, of whom almost 200,000 people have arrived, 61% women and 31% minors,” said Elma Saiz, minister of the branch.

The Secretary of State for Migration has published some data illustrating the response of the Spanish State to the conflict. A response that, for the Secretary of State, Pilar Cancela, has been "exemplary, demonstrating great agility and ability to adapt to the different circumstances of the emergency".

Since the outbreak of the war, more than 201,000 Ukrainians and, above all, Ukrainians have arrived in Spain. Currently, and thanks to the "great effort of coordination" by all the administrations, a total of 199,000 people have temporary protection, which places Spain as the fifth country of the European Union by number of concessions. Of the 199,081 people affected by the conflict in Ukraine with temporary protection in Spain, 31.7% (62,447) are under 18 years of age, and 61.2% (121,882) are women. In addition, it should be stressed that, to date, in Spain there are 1,769 unaccompanied Ukrainian minors.

The SEM data also show that the displaced population is mostly young - 31 years on average - and with higher education - more than 60%.

Another noteworthy feature is the rapid integration of the Ukrainian population into Spanish society, since, for example, there are currently 29,500 minors in school and 20,500 people are working - 53% are women. In fact, its incorporation into the labor market has been especially fast, favored by the recognition to work with temporary protection without restrictions of any kind, and supported in the CREADE (Reception, Care and Referral Centers) with specialized units with CEOE Foundation, Social Security and Public Employment Services. Hospitality, construction and commerce are the sectors in which the majority of displaced persons have been employed. .

Main interventions in two years of war and humanitarian crisis

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Spanish Government has worked intensively to address the humanitarian crisis generated by this conflict. Thus, the initial response focused on documenting and attending to the more than 8,000 people who arrived in Spain every week, speeding up, through a Ministerial Order, the procedures for granting temporary protection within 24 hours or adopting urgent measures, by Royal Decree, within the framework of the National Plan of Response to the Economic and Social Consequences of the War in Ukraine, with specific funds for the care of displaced persons due to the war.

The opening of the four CREADE in the first few weeks - doubling the capacity of the reception system in a few days - was essential, as the Secretary of State for Migration shows, to be able to deliver the documentation and give emergency reception to these thousands of people who arrived every week. These centers are located in the places where the largest Ukrainian population resided before the emergency: Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga, and offer temporary protection, reception and referral by inclusion and process Social Security number, health card, employment guidance and legal advice. In total, more than 175,000 people have been cared for and today some 14,000 people remain housed in the Spanish reception system.

The previous experience of the reception system and the collaboration of NGOs and public administrations was key to being able to respond to this crisis and meet the challenge of caring for the Ukrainian population while continuing to respond to the increase in other refugee flows from other crises, such as Afghanistan, Central America, Venezuela or Peru.

During this time, the Family Reception programme has also been launched, with great results, with Fundación La Caixa, and has been implemented in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Murcia. The results, in general terms, are positive, highlighting the absence of homelessness.

Importance of working in coordination

The Ministry of Migration focuses on the importance of the work done in a coordinated and joint way to provide an effective and rapid response in this war. "A collective effort has been made to face a historical challenge," they say from the SEM.

This work has been, and is, developed in coordination with other public administrations, civil society, private entities and NGOs, ranging from support for documentation, health care, education and minors, to the development of applications for employment aid, housing rental, or to the provision of supply in the CREADE, among many other interventions and logistics works.

Investment of more than 1.4 billion euros

Spain’s investment in these two years has exceeded 1.4 billion euros, since, in addition to state government funds, it has had cofinancing from the European Union.

In 2022, with the outbreak of the war, an extraordinary line of credit was approved for 1.2 billion euros that, in large part, between 2022 and 2023, were transferred to other ministries, such as Health or Education, which, in turn, have been transferred to the Autonomous Communities based on the expenses that they have justified. Two calls were also launched for various costs of care for the Ukrainian population made by CCAA, municipalities and other local entities.
With regard to European funds, through cofinancing, the Commission granted 28 million that have been incorporated into the Spanish National Programme of the Migration and Integration Asylum Fund (FAMI), and another 209 million, through the European Social Fund (ESF). At present, another EUR 50 million are pending final acceptance by the Commission under the umbrella of the ESF.