The Interior Ministry has approved 117 applications for temporary protection in the Balearic Islands for Ukrainians who have fled their country due to the Russian invasion, according to data provided by the Government Delegation on the islands: 68 in Mallorca, 43 in Ibiza and 6 in Menorca. This document, valid for one year and renewable, allows both those who have arrived in Spain in recent days and those who were already in the country to work and reside here.
The Red Cross warns that more refugees will continue to arrive in the coming weeks, although in the case of Ibiza they say, it is not possible to speak of a social emergency as in Mallorca, where the arrival is “massive”. For the time being, the organisation has provided direct assistance to 22 people on Ibiza and Formentera (14 women, 1 man and 7 minors), to whom they have provided information and guidance related to the processing of documentation, as well as aid to meet urgent basic needs (food, clothing and toys).
“We try to cover the basic needs and we give them food or clothes even if they are staying with relatives or friends,” says Xavier Pozo, head of Communication for the Red Cross in the Balearic Islands. “The people who have arrived are with family groups or in the homes of friends, but there is a group that is staying in a hotel because they wanted to,” he adds.
In fact, so far, no refugee has required accommodation by the administrations or social organisations. The Balearic Ministry of Social Affairs explains that the hotel Platja d’en Bossa – which had been intended for covid patients who could not ensure proper isolation and has now been made available to refugees who may arrive in Ibiza – “has currently not taken any”. They also point out that the Central Government has not yet announced how many of the people already in Spain could arrive in the archipelago.
At the same time, Pozo indicates that, in addition to covering their essential needs, they are provided with legal guidance and emotional support. “We are carrying out assessments with a group of psychologists, in coordination with other organisations, to provide emotional support for these people,” he says.
Since this is a humanitarian crisis derived from a conflict that forces them to leave their country, “the emotional burden is very significant”, emphasizes Pozo, adding that “we cannot forget that they are being separated from their loved ones, they are being left without their homes, without their jobs. Their life has disappeared overnight and they have to start again from scratch”.
The Red Cross team in Ibiza that attends to Ukrainian refugees is made up of three social workers and five volunteers, “four of whom are fluent in Russian,” emphasizes Pozo, which is the most common first language in the Dombas and Crimea regions of Ukraine, and the predominant language in the large cities in the east and south of the country.
Ukrainian Association in Ibiza
The organization Nuestra Ucrania, made up of Ukrainians living in Ibiza, continues to work to help their Ukrainian compatriots. In fact, “all the donations” that have been made since February 28th and until March 7th are already on their way; pallets loaded with food, pharmaceutical products and hygiene items.
“As the war continues and we still need your help, we will keep the collection points open,” explains the association on its social networks. Those interested in making donations can go to Avenida Doctor Ricardo Curtoys, 1, and Calle San Lorenzo, 16 in Santa Eulà ria.
Pitiusas families offer their homes
UkraineTakeShelter.com is a platform, created by two Harvard students, which connects Ukrainian refugees with potential hosts and housing.
In the case of Ibiza there are already five ads to host people and one in Formentera. The latter, for example, states: “Country house of a father with two children willing to host two people”.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.