Multisector Needs Analysis Slovenia 2023

A survey on the situation of persons under temporary protection from Ukraine in Slovenia was carried out in the second half of 2023; it covered 193 Ukrainian families and forms part of a wider study across the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, some of which have taken on a significantly greater refugee burden than Slovenia: in Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. Around 8,000 Ukrainian nationals with temporary refugee status live in Slovenia. Four cultural mediators assisted us in conducting the research; some were of Ukrainian origin themselves, whilst most were volunteers or even founders of humanitarian organisations, whose task was to identify respondents and ask them an agreed set of questions. Each interview with a family lasted approximately one hour. The ‘head of the family’ and other family members were asked about a wide range of topics, on the basis of which it is possible to form a more accurate picture of the situation of Ukrainian refugees in our country. This was a so-called multi-sector needs assessment, covering the areas of employment, education, accommodation, safety, health conditions and life in general. We were interested in whether they were in employment, whether they were working illegally or were officially registered, whether they were considering returning home once the war in Ukraine had ended, whether their children were enrolled at school and whether they were able to follow lessons without difficulty or were perhaps victims of bullying by their classmates, whether their healthcare needs were being met here, whether they feel safe, whether they have all the necessary information, and what challenges they are facing. Their answers varied, as the situation of members of the Ukrainian refugee community here also differs, starting with their accommodation: they are housed in various towns and villages across Slovenia, some are staying with friends, others with private landlords, and a few are housed at the refugee centre in Debeli Rtič. The survey revealed that only 6 to 8 per cent of the Ukrainian families who took part in the survey are considering returning to their homeland, which indicates the success of their integration into Slovenian society and the labour market.