Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 June (BelTA) – After the latest revision of the law on forced migration comes into effect on 1 July 2017, adult migrants from Ukraine will be able to get free medical aid in Belarus. The relevant statement was made by UNHCR Representative in the Republic of Belarus Jean-Yves Bouchardy during the press conference held on 20 June to mark World Refugee Day, BelTA has learned.

Jean-Yves Bouchardy specified that Ukrainian citizens, who had been granted protection in Belarus, will be able to get free planned medical aid. “In the past only kids could enjoy free medical aid of the emergency variety and the planned variety. Once the new law is in effect, adult Ukrainians, who have been granted protection in Belarus, will be able to get medical aid, too,” said the UNHCR representative in Belarus. “Migrants from Ukraine represent the majority of those applying for protection.”

Alexander Tatura, Deputy Head of the Citizenship and Migration Department, Head of the Office for External Labor Migration, Refugees, and Asylum at the Belarusian Interior Ministry, remarked that Belarusian laws on forced migration are rather advanced. “But we don’t rest on our accomplishments. We work hard to improve the national shelter system in a bid to make the national laws fully compliant with conventions and modern international trends in the area of protection of forced migrants,” stressed the Interior Ministry representative.

The fourth revision of the law on forced migration will come into effect on 1 July. A number of its clauses have been remodeled. Those are primarily clauses dealing with rights of the people applying for protection and people, who have been granted various forms of protection, to medical services, education, and employment, explained Alexander Tatura.