Almost 1,240,000 Ukrainian War Refugees (UWR) have been staying in Poland, and 85,000 in Romania (UNHCR). During the first three months of the war, Warsaw received 800,000 UWR. There were approx. 300,000 UWR in Warsaw metropolitan area in March 2022. 170,000 UWR registered in Warsaw and the metro area by the end of May (Warsaw Municipality). Among Ukrainian Refugees who fled the war, there were Persons with Disability, who are the most vulnerable group of refugees. They require special ways of transport, housing adjusted to their needs, and proper care in a receiving country.  6,080 UWR applied for Polish disability certificates, and 4,034 positive decisions have been issued (Ministry of Family and Social Policy, Sept. 2022).

Receiving Ukrainian War Refugees with Disabilities (UWRwD) occurs in the context of no procedures and guidelines on providing support to UWRwD, legal uncertainty (disability certificates issued in Ukraine are not recognized in Poland), and an increasingly noticeable economic crisis. Moreover, socio-cultural differences in understanding disability also create a challenging context for providing adequate support.

Therefore there is an urgent need to collect data and prepare guidelines for people who support Ukrainian War Refugees with Disabilities.

To answer this need Collegium Civitas is running a research project Undisabling the Refugee Flow. Increasing the Capacity of Polish and Romanian Stakeholders to Provide Support to Ukrainian Refugees with Disabilities in the Metropolitan Areas of Warsaw and Bucharest. The project is financed by National Agency for Academic Exchange.

The project aims to bring knowledge in the field of UWRwD through multidimensional participatory research, which consists of the study of a legislative provision, interviews of relevant stakeholders (NGOs, public and local administration, Ukrainian associations) in the two metropolitan areas, and direct stakeholders’ debates on selected case studies.

The team uses the knowledge to raise awareness and develop a toolkit that practitioners can use.

Dr Monika Nowicka, Head of the project Undisabling the Refugee Flow. Increasing the Capacity of Polish and Romanian Stakeholders to Provide Support to Ukrainian Refugees with Disabilities in the Metropolitan Areas of Warsaw and Bucharest, Monika.Nowicka@civitas.edu.pl

11.05.2023