Sanchez promises full support to 110,000 Ukrainian refugees in Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the Ukrainian refugee reception, care and referral center in Barcelona, where he offered full support to the estimated 110,000 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Spain displaced by the war.

Sanchez highlighted on Friday in Barcelona that there are already more than 47,000 Ukrainian men and women who have received temporary protection in Spain.

He added that to the estimated 110,000 who have arrived in our country, "we are going to give them all possible protection and opportunities, so that they feel at home."

The head of government visited the refugee reception center in Barcelona accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, and the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, José Luis Escriva.

After touring the facilities, Sanchez said that "we are setting an example of collaboration, cooperation and institutional coordination, echoing this current and demanding solidarity from all Barcelona, Catalan and Spanish citizens with the refugees from Ukraine".

'Europe will prevail'

Sanchez called for peace and said that Ukraine will resist, Europe will prevail and war crimes will not go unpunished.

"What is happening in Ukraine challenges all European citizens," he said, because according to the Spanish government "Putin is attacking Europe, trying to weaken the European project, based on Human Rights, democracy, freedom and peace."

€ 1.2 billion for refugee care

Spain has set up four reception centers for refugees from Ukraine. In addition to the one visited on Friday in Barcelona, there are others in Madrid, Alicante and Malaga.

According to government figures, the Spanish National Response Plan to the consequences of the war includes allocating up to 1.2 billion euros in 2022 for the reception and care of refugees from Ukraine, as an advance of the European funds that will finance this response.