Donation of power generators to institutions in Moldova as part of the development and humanitarian assistance of the Government of the Republic of Croatia

Chisinau, July 13, 2023 – H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Moldova, based in Bucharest, Marija Kapitanović, visited on Wednesday, July 12, together with the Representative of the UNICEF Office in Moldova, Maha Damaj, two of the eight institutions in Chisinau where power generators provided as part of the development and humanitarian assistance of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, in cooperation with the UNICEF Office for Croatia were installed. As part of the visit, Ambassador Kapitanović and Representative Damaj met with the Deputy Mayor of Chisinau, Angela Cutasevici, and the Director of the Placement and Rehabilitation Center for Young Children, Gheorghe Țurcanu.

In addition to the increase in the number of refugees, Moldova is facing a serious energy crisis. Due to constant attacks on the Ukrainian electricity infrastructure, the substations that provided almost a third of Moldova's electricity imports were destroyed. The health and social care sectors and the education system as well as the civil protection system, which is responsible for the safety and refugee care, are the most threatened by the power outage.

The donation included eight power generators which were delivered to seven health and education institutions in Chisinau and a placement center in Ceadir Lunga, a region in the South of Moldova. To date, these institutions serve over 1800 beneficiaries. The value of the donation is 100,000 EUR. This support is in response to the need to ensure that Moldovan institutions such as hospitals and schools operate smoothly to provide basic health and education services to children. This primarily applies to the most vulnerable children, such as children with developmental disabilities and children in a disadvantaged position.

“I am very pleased that the Croatian donation is used for such a valuable cause. Through this donation, Croatian Government extends its support to Moldova and Moldovan people in managing and overcoming the energy needs in the upcoming winter months by ensuring the uninterrupted activity of institutions responsible for the wellbeing of children and the most vulnerable ones. As a Croatian ambassador to Moldova, my mission is, in addition to further developing diplomatic relations between two countries, to get closer to the people of Moldova. By making this donation, Croatia sends a message of solidarity to the Moldovan citizens. Croatia is today a member of the UN, EU, NATO and other international organizations, but Croatia is also a country that knows very well what it means to go through a difficult period. In the 1990s, Croatia took care of hundreds of thousands of refugees, both internally displaced and refugees from the neighbouring country, most of which were women and children. Hence, we have a special sensibility for people in need. I would like to thank UNICEF Croatia for its cooperation and UNICEF Moldova for helping us implement such a valuable and immediate donation”, said Marija Kapitanović, the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Moldova.  

“By providing these power generators to eight institutions in Moldova that offer essential education, rehabilitation, and medical assistance services to children, including those with special needs or in difficult situations, UNICEF ensures the coverage of energy needs, especially for the upcoming cold season. I am happy and proud that we are able to prepare now, during the summer, for any challenge or surprise that winter might present to us. Thanks to the support provided by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, we can assure that these institutions will operate regardless of the challenges tied to access to energy, a vital resource for the safety and well-being of children, which must be guaranteed regardless of any crisis or conflict in the region”, stressed Maha Damaj, the Representative of UNICEF Office in the Republic of Moldova. 

Providing support to Moldova is one of many projects on which the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs successfully cooperates with UNICEF as part of the development and humanitarian assistance which refers to activities and measures designed to promote sustainable development in less developed countries. Activities within the Official Development Assistance (ODA) are funded by the state budget of the Republic of Croatia and are used in accordance with the regulations of the OECD Development Assistance Committee on official development assistance.

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Previous cooperation projects of MFEA and the UNICEF Office in Croatia within ODA in the period from 2018 to 2023 include:

• Ensuring quality and timely health care for Syrian refugees in Egypt, with special emphasis on children and women as the most vulnerable
• Protection and improving the educational conditions of Syrian refugee children in Jordan by financing the construction of five playgrounds for children with disabilities in Azraq and Za'atari refugee camps
• Humanitarian aid to children and families in Yemen
• Reconstruction of inclusive children's playgrounds in Lebanon
• Donation of generators which enable the continuous operation of hospitals and schools in Ukraine
• Donation of generators which enable the continuous operation of hospitals and schools in Moldova
• Establishing three prefabricated schools for children in the earthquake-affected areas of Türkiye