Fostering the Financial Inclusion of Forcibly Displaced Persons from Ukraine in Romania

With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe experienced its most significant forcibly displaced person (FDP) crisis in decades. Numerous Ukrainians were forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations. Given its proximity to Ukraine and its status as an EU country, Romania emerged as a prominent destination for many of these displaced individuals.

Since 24 February 2022, 3,141,069 FDPs from Ukraine have crossed the Romanian border. At the time of writing (May 2023) 96,512 Ukrainian FDPs are present in the country. Out of this number 78 percent consist of adults and 88 percent are women, primarily mothers with children as well as pensioners. These groups are particularly vulnerable during armed conflicts. The majority of these displaced individuals arrived from areas such as Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv. These individuals claim to have chosen Romania due to the local hospitality, availability of humanitarian aid, existing relatives and friends and proximity to their home.

The FDP population in Romania is notably heterogeneous. This observation has been derived from quantitative data analysis, which identified four distinct segments within the population. These segments vary in terms of age, household composition, employment status, income level, and reasons for remaining in Romania. While their non-financial needs are similar across all segments, their financial needs vary significantly. 

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