Moldovan PM visits border crossing point in south-east region

Chisinau, 25 February /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita today went to the Palanca border crossing point, in order to see how the process of reception and management of the flow of foreign citizens is taking place. On these days, a high flow of passengers and transport means is recorded in Palanca and border policemen and customs employees from Moldova and Ukraine work jointly, at the maximal capacity, in order to ease the cross-border traffic, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

The head of the Border Police, Rosian Vasiloi, informed the PM about the migration flows in the border crossing points through which Ukrainian citizens enter Moldova. Till the time of the visit, the Palanca border checkpoint was crossed by more than 40,000 people, of whom over 21,000 are Ukrainian citizens and about 5,000 were in Moldova in transit. To shorten the waiting time in customs, only one exit lane was left, the other ones being used for the entrance of citizens in Moldova.      

Natalia Gavrilita discussed with Ukrainian citizens in Palanca. They thanked the Moldovan citizens for solidarity and friendship proved and which were felt immediately after crossing the border. Many of them go to relatives or friends, to different settlement of Moldova; but there are also people who are hosted at the centres arranged by Moldova’s authorities.   

The strictly needed assistance is provided to the people who cross the border and who ask for asylum in Moldova, at the Palanca, Stefan Voda district, sorting centre, where tents are set for migrants, with a capacity of 240 places. The prime minister visited the centre to see how it works, which are the problems, as well as to encourage the people accommodated there.   

„The situation is quite difficult; I have come to see how the centre works on site and to encourage you. I know that many people who are now at the Palanca border crossing point go through a human tragedy, I saw many tears. We will do our utmost to help and ease the traffic. On 24 and 25 February, we had meetings, during which we took decisions to as quickly as possible help the people who reach the country and need support. We are encouraged, in our efforts, by the solidarity of the people, who come to help also with food products and transport. We take decisions depending on the situation, we are here to help all those in need,’’ Natalia Gavrilita said.    

So far, 71 people are accommodated at the centre. The citizens can spend here only 72 hours, after which they are transferred to Chisinau, to specially arranged centres of the Labour and Social Protection Ministry. At the same time, there also other possibilities of accommodation in settlements of the Stefan Voda district, 40 places in Palanca, 10 in Tudora and 70 in Crocmaz.   

Photo: Government