Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine
(with children with disabilities)
European Commission
If you are fleeing the war in Ukraine and coming to the European Union, you will find key information at this webpage by the European Commission about your rights with regard to crossing the border into an EU country, eligibility for temporary protection and applying for international protection, as well as the rights of travel inside the European Union.
The section 'Information about national authorities and free travel options' on this webpage, you can find key information about which national authorities to contact for temporary protection and which organisations are active in helping those fleeing Ukraine, as well as how to contact them.
- Please click here for more specific information on access to healthcare in the European Union for people arriving from the Ukraine.
- Please click here for more specific information on the rights of children arriving from Ukraine.
UNCHR, the UN Refugee Agency
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Please find here key information for Ukrainians travelling to or present in other countries, about asylum procedures and where to go for help in other (European) Countries: https://help.unhcr.org/ukraine/information-on-the-situation-in-ukraine/
European Disability Forum
The European Disability Forum is an umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities. They bring together representative organisations of persons with disabilities from across Europe, and defend the interests of more than 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe. The European Disability Forum is run by persons with disabilities and their families.
Please visit this webpage by the European Disability Forum to find more information for people escaping from the Ukraine war to arrive and settle in the European Union (in each of the 27 countries included in the European Union).
European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare and complex diseases
For people arriving from the Ukraine suffering from rare diseases or complex conditions, the 24 European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare and complex diseases are united in their support of all Ukrainian patients. Consult this website for more information and guidance. ERNs are specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of rare/ very rare illnesses in almost all fields of medicine. The 1,600 ERN expert centres are embedded in more than 300 EU hospitals, distributed across most or all EU countries (including neighbouring Ukraine) and Norway. ERNs have committed to provide a hub for patients with rare diseases inside and outside Ukraine.
DCPHelp, ICPS & CP-ECA
DCPHelp – the All-Ukrainian Association of Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy – is working with the International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS) and the Cerebral Palsy in the EU Association (CP-ECA) to provide help and advice to refugees from Ukraine with cerebral palsy. For this purpose they installed a HOTLINE: +380 73 200 2004. The hotline is handled by Ruslan Vasyutin, President of DCPHelp, and could assist in the following:
▪ Interpretation between Ukrainian, Russian and English
▪ Contacts for short-term accommodation in Poland, Slovakia (…)
▪ Contacts for long-term accommodation in other European countries
▪ Advice on how to obtain support, medical assistance, supplies etc.
▪ Advice on legal questions of Ukrainian refugees
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 174 member states and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has set up information and support hotlines for persons in Ukraine and fleeing Ukraine in different countries. This page compiles the currently operational hotlines, and will be updated regularly.
Information for specific non-EU countries:
United Kingdom
Please find at this webpage key immigration information for Ukrainians in the United Kingdom, British nationals and their family members. The UK government’s 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme lets individuals, charities, community groups and businesses offer a route to safe accommodation in the UK for Ukrainians. Please find here are a link to further information about how to apply for visa in the United Kingdom. Please find here a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK covering what you need to know in your first few days, getting used to life in the UK including how to find a home, access essential public services, healthcare, find work and childcare and education services.
Norway
In Norway all registered refugees have the same right to health care as all other citizens. The national health service is very well organized throughout the country, and most of the service is free, except from a small amount you must pay for some services. For children under the age of 16, everything is free. Most equipment (chairs, standing frames, wheelchairs etc.) are covered by the national health service. Interpreters are provided by the local authorities. There are different web pages with orientations in different languages about healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees in Norway, and some also in Ukrainian: https://www.helsenorge.no/uk/utlendinger-i-norge/helsehjelp-for-asylsokere-og-flyktninger-i-norge/
There are two films in Ukrainian on Youtube, made by the Norwegian institute of public health, with information about the health services in Norway:
Iceland
Please find here the central website for information for Ukrainians coming to Iceland. The Government of Iceland approved on April 22 a recommendation of the Prime Minister, Minister of Social Affairs and the Labour Market, Minister of Justice, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, and the Minister of Education and Children to accept the proposals of the Refugee Committee to specifically welcome groups of vulnerable refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Other relevant links:
- In order to support Ukrainian people with cerebral palsy, the Federation of Portuguese Cerebral Palsy Associations (FAPPC) shared documents which aim to provide a relevant set of information to volunteers and other potential caregivers of children with cerebral palsy who first have contact with this population: https://www.fappc.pt/cerebral-palsy-help-ukraine
- The Polskie Forum Migracyjne (Polish Migration Forum Foundation) developed a guide for migrants on the subject of support for people with disabilities in Poland. This guide writes about legal regulations, available forms of support and disability adjudication procedures.
- CP Denmark, the Danish national association of cerebral palsy, has made their social and psychological counseling available to refugees from Ukraine who have cerebral palsy or a similar disability when they are in Denmark: https://www.cpdanmark.dk/medlemstilbud/faa-raadgivning/assistance-to-ukrainian-refugees/