UNHCR Romania Ukraine Refugee Situation Update – 4 May 2026

Countries: Romania, Ukraine Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Between 28 and 30 April, UNHCR participated in Exercise Danubius Galatiensis 26, a large-scale simulation held in Galați, designed to test Romania’s preparedness for potential mass arrivals of refugees, organized by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII). As the first pilot of its kind in Europe, it brought together national authorities, including the Border Police (IGPF), the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), the General Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) in Galați, the Ombudsperson, and civil society partners. It assessed coordination, decision-making, and border, asylum and reception procedures ahead of implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in June. The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for UNHCR to engage with GII and other agencies, identifying protection risks and good practices and contributing to strengthened, protection-oriented preparedness. UNHCR has initiated a series of engagements with key international financial institutions in Romania, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the World Bank (WB) aimed at aligning development investments with refugee inclusion priorities. The meetings aimed to identify possible synergies for including refugees from Ukraine in ongoing and planned reforms in social protection, housing, education and labour markets. Discussions also focused on improving access to data on refugees’ economic contributions and addressing policy gaps through joint analysis, technical support and pilot initiatives. Strengthened cooperation in these areas will help ensure more inclusive national systems, enabling refugees to access services, contribute to local economies and build self-reliance. The institutions expressed interest in deepening collaboration with UNHCR. This would include – within their respective mandates and programmes – matters such as financial inclusion, advisory services, social housing and evidencebased policy development, to expand opportunities for refugees and support inclusive, resilient development.

Read full story on Reliefweb