ZAGREB, 7 April 2022 - Croatian MPs on Thursday unanimously welcomed legislative amendments that will allow refugees from Ukraine to exercise the rights to healthcare and social welfare in Croatia.
Parliament is amending the law on the mandatory health insurance and healthcare of aliens and the law on social welfare.
There are more than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees in Croatia who have fled the Russian aggression and we have shown solidarity in various ways, but it's cleat the war won't end soon, so it's necessary to legally regulate their status, said Domagoj Hajduković of the Social Democrats.
Anka Mrak Taritaš of GLAS agreed, saying it was clear the war would not be short because "human lives mean nothing to the little dictator who started from the east."
"We must have special empathy towards these people and enable them to lead dignified lives," she added.
Besides receiving one-off financial assistance and accommodation, the refugees will be entitled to a minimum allowance, said Martina Vlašić Iljkić of the Social Democratic Party.
Urša Raukar Gamulin of the Green-Left Bloc commended the government's will to help the refugees from Ukraine.
"Croatia has reacted well in terms of taking in and accommodating the refugees and these (amendments) go in that direction as well," said Marijan Pavliček of the Sovereignists.
If necessary, Croatia must take in even more than 20,000 refugees because it has the money and the accommodation for it, he added.
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