The Czechia provided CZK 5.9 billion to war refugees from Ukraine in humanitarian benefits in the six months since the beginning of the Russian invasion. For households in the Czech Republic, the state contributedCZK 846 million to the accommodation of newcomers, according to the Czech Ministry of Labor.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. The Czech Republic received the most refugees per population. The Ministry of the Interior has issued over 415,000 visas for protection. About 35 percent of the arrivals are children and young people under 18 years of age. Of the adults, 72 percent are women. More than five percent of adults are over 65 years old.
According to Labor Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL), the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine, who were driven from their homes by the war, was a big test for the Czech Republic. The Czechia provides a humanitarian allowance of CZK 5,000 for the acquisition of basic needs for the beginning of life in a foreign country. It pays out for the month that people have obtained a protection visa. If necessary, refugees can receive it repeatedly, for another five months. According to the ministry, the authorities issued a total of 1.17 million rations in the six months since the beginning of the invasion. They paid out CZK 5.9 billion to them. Even before the introduction of the humanitarian benefit, refugees could receive a benefit of extraordinary immediate aid.
Long queues have formed at employment offices in recent months. The Ministry encouraged the new arrivals to set up a Czech bank account and process the benefits remotely. The government then enforced an amendment to the rules. Refugees who have secured accommodation in facilities and have basic equipment, food and hygiene needs in them are no longer entitled to a humanitarian allowance.
Accommodation was offered by households from the beginning. People accepted refugees in their homes, others provided their free apartments. The state paid them solidarity contributions for this. So far, he has sent 100,200 of them for CZK 846 million.
It is possible to apply for support for accommodation that has space for rest, food preparation and personal hygiene, a toilet and access to drinking water. Accommodation providers had to provide it for at least 16 days a month. Until the end of June, they could receive CZK 3,000 a month per person, but a maximum of CZK 12,000. The amount for the room and the whole apartment did not differ. Since July, the support for the provision of an entire apartment has increased. It amounts to CZK 5,000 for one accommodated person, CZK 9,000 for two, CZK 12,000 for three, CZK 14,000 for four and CZK 15,000 for five or more people.
Contributions also began to be paid only for apartments that were previously empty. The measure is intended to prevent terminations and evictions of tenants due to efforts to obtain support from the state. The solidarity allowance is also for accommodation providers where refugees pay their own gas and electricity. This accommodation is also considered free of charge.
“Thanks to the solidarity contribution, we support those who selflessly offer shelter to refugees. This is the best way of support for households that have free capacity and want to offer it. There is still interest in the solidarity contribution,” said the minister. According to him, the authorities handle the processing of the application and the payment of the benefit, which can only be handled online.
The current amount of the solidarity contribution is valid until the end of the year. After that, the government should revise it again.
Source: CTK
