Over 14,000 Ukrainian refugees have already arrived in Catalonia

Government notes "importance of guaranteeing all their rights" and reiterates call for a "specific fund" from Spain

A group of Ukrainians staying in Guissona get off the bus in Lleida to apply for temporary protection, March 22, 2022 (by Laura Cortés)
A group of Ukrainians staying in Guissona get off the bus in Lleida to apply for temporary protection, March 22, 2022 (by Laura Cortés) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

March 22, 2022 05:17 PM

Over 14,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have arrived in Catalonia since the Russian invasion began last month, according to the Catalan government on Tuesday.

Patrícia Plaja, the government spokesperson, pointed out that not all of these refugees will stay in Catalonia "because there is a portion that are in transit" with destinations elsewhere.

This figure is up from the 11,500 counted as of Monday, and "there is no cap" as to the number of people who may come to Catalonia.

As a result, Plaja has insisted that Spain implement "a specific economic fund, which takes into account the number of people accepted."

She said that the government is very aware of "the importance of guaranteeing all rights" for people who are "fleeing the war."

Plaja also highlighted that the Minister of Economy, Jaume Giró, has already requested the "necessary" economic funds to do so and asked for the margin of deficit for autonomous communities - including Catalonia - to be increased.

All over Catalonia, measures are being taken to accommodate the influx of Ukrainian refugees, from helping people register for residency, schooling, healthcare, housing and work, to providing shelter, on top of the humanitarian aid that is being sent to Ukraine from Catalonia.

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