Czech Republic, EU to lift temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees once war ends

Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic will lose their temporary protection status once a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached in Ukraine, said Czech Minister of the Interior, Vít Rakušan.

"Once the war ends in any way, no one arriving here will be able to obtain temporary protection status," Rakušan noted, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Czech media also reported that other European Union countries hosting refugees fleeing the war will adopt the same stance.

The Czech Republic, with its relatively small population, has accepted the highest number of Ukrainian refugees, with approximately 400,000 currently residing in the country. The temporary protection status grants refugees access to social services, healthcare, education, and the right to work.

Note that, the refugee crisis stemming from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to significant displacement, with around 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees in Europe. Germany has now overtaken Poland as the primary destination, hosting over 1.2 million refugees.

Meanwhile, Poland has seen a decrease in its refugee population, with fewer than a million still in the country, largely due to Ukrainians moving on to other Western European nations. The Czech Republic has the highest refugee rate per capita in the EU, followed by Ireland, which has also experienced a rapid influx.

Beyond Europe, over half a million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Canada and the United States, with Canada offering the CUAET program and the U.S. providing Temporary Protected Status or the U4U program. These programs are highly popular due to historical migration ties.

In contrast, Russia claims to have received millions of refugees, but experts believe the numbers are inflated, with actual figures closer to 1.2 million. The status of displaced people in Russia remains uncertain, with many granted temporary shelter rather than refugee status. Ukraine is working on efforts to repatriate refugees, but return depends on conditions like employment, housing, and security.

By Aghakazim Guliyev