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Writer's pictureNina Tsenova

Reintegrating Refugees: How Ukraine Can Welcome Its Citizens Home After the War



Author: Mert Erol



Although the war between Russia and Ukraine is gradually fading away, the reintegration of citizens who left Ukraine and became refugees as a result of this war and how Ukraine will solve this problem have begun to be considered. How to restore the families, structures and functioning that were disrupted by the departure of people who had to leave their country due to the war is an issue that Ukraine needs to think about and implement carefully. Although the European Union is trying to help people who left Ukraine, not all European countries have the power to meet this situation, and plans for returning home have begun to be considered. In this article, we will make a short review of how Ukraine can solve this issue.


How The EU Helps Refugees From Ukraine


As a result of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian citizens have sought refuge in European Union countries. In response, the European Union has tried to provide material and moral assistance to these citizens in response to these attacks by Russia. This assistance includes various issues such as the temporary protection mechanism, financial support, humanitarian aid and border management support. According to the figures announced by the European Union, 4.2 million citizens have been registered and placed under temporary protection, and the duration of this temporary protection has been extended until March 4, 2026. In addition, the European Union has established a solidarity line for people fleeing the war and has tried to ensure that people can easily receive help. The telephone helpline can be reached by phone at 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 within the European Union countries and +32 22 99 96 96 from countries outside the European Union.


How Ukraine Can Welcome Its Citizens Home After The War


Ukraine has several strategies to follow to return and settle its citizens after the war. In order to solve this task easily and quickly, it can try the following methods.

 

1-Provision of security and structuring of infrastructure


Protected areas for the security of life lost during the war should be created and citizens should be placed in these areas and citizens who fled the country should be settled. If Ukraine wants its citizens to return to their country, it should first provide security so that the citizens can return. In the next stage, the infrastructure and urban structure that were damaged during the war should be rebuilt and put into service for the citizens so that the lives of the returning citizens will not be difficult.

 

2-Housing solutions and economic incentives


The most important problem that citizens who will return to the country will face after security and infrastructure will be the need for housing. The housing problem of citizens who are asked to return by rebuilding their homes destroyed during the war should be solved by the Ukrainian government. New employment opportunities should be created for citizens who will return to the country to take back their lost jobs and people should be encouraged to earn money. In this regard, employment and incentive plans can be prepared together with the European Union.

 

3-Psychosocial support


During the war, millions of people were affected by this situation, including children, young people and the elderly. It should not be forgotten that while some people have a strong psychological state that can handle this situation, there are also people who cannot face it. In this regard, regular psychosocial support should be provided, starting with children. Efforts should be made to improve the mental states of citizens returning to their countries by preparing a long-term and comprehensive plan with psychologists who are experts in the field.

 

4-Cooperation and communication campaigns with foreign countries


Ukraine can facilitate the process of settling and recalling its citizens by cooperating with countries outside the European Union that want to support their citizens who want to return to their countries after the war. This may include financial aid, economic cooperation and diplomatic agreements. In the meantime, good communication campaigns should be created to request and encourage citizens abroad to return to their countries, so that they can explain to citizens who left the country how the process will be when they return.

 

As a result, how Ukraine, which wants its citizens who fled their country during the war to return to their country in nearby countries and European Union countries, will do this resettlement and integration is a controversial issue. The first thing that people who left the country will want to do in order to return to their country will be security. At this point, Ukraine will need to be sure that it can provide this and prepare its plans accordingly. If they are confident at this point, the next steps will be to improve the country's infrastructure, solve the housing problem and provide economic incentives to the citizens who will return. In addition, the resettlement process should be planned thoroughly, taking into account the psychosocial conditions of its citizens.




 

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