The 21st day of war in Ukraine. Romania continues its actions to support Ukrainian refugees and Kyiv authorities.
Here is a selection of the main news of Wednesday, March 16:
* "Romania will receive as many refugees as will come. I do not intend of refusing any Ukrainian woman or man who is seeking shelter with us, and those who seek refuge in Moldova - and here the capacity is exceeded - will all be received in Romania. We do not intend, we do not intend to bring into the discussion a number or a quota. It's about the values we believe in. Refugees must be helped. As many as they come, they will be received and will receive the aid and assistance that they deserve. It's the absolute minimum that we can do for the Ukrainians in this extremely difficult period and in this catastrophic situation they ended up in through Russia's aggression," said Klaus Iohannis, in Chisinau, after the meeting with President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
* President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday that the Romanian academic environment is ready to receive over 10,000 students from Ukraine.
"The field of education as a whole has an important contribution to the national effort of hosting refugees, and the academic environment is ready to receive over 10,000 students from Ukraine. I am convinced that Ukrainian students will quickly integrate into Romanian academic communities. They will thus have the opportunity to continue and complete their university training in order to benefit their people. I am confident that our universities will prove that nothing is stronger than the force of solidarity and that nothing can overcome the will of the people to be free and prosperous," said the head of state at the inauguration of the House of La Francophonie at the POLITEHNICA University in Bucharest.
* Romania stands with the Republic of Moldova, as it has always been, President Klaus Iohannis said in Chisinau on Wednesday, appreciating this country's efforts in the context of the war in Ukraine.
"Romania stands with the Republic of Moldova and all its citizens as it has always been. You can count on us. And, besides Romania, all the European and Euro-Atlantic states stand in solidarity with you," Klaus Iohannis said after the meeting with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
* A 55-tonne donation of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova have reached, on Wednesday, Chisinau, announces the Department for the Relation with the Republic of Moldova (DRRM). According to a DRRM release, it is the second batch of aid that reaches the Republic of Moldova, after the first batch weighing 17 tons was sent two weeks ago.
"DRRM has been actively involved in collecting and transporting humanitarian aid in order to come to the support of refugees and to ease the burden of the Republic of Moldova in this crisis. The 55 tonnes of food and non-food products are added to the 17 tonnes donated by Romania, two weeks ago," the quoted source mentions.
* The President of the Romanian Red Cross, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, Margareta, thanked, on Wednesday, in Tulcea, all Romanians for the support granted to refugees from Ukraine and assured all those trying to flee from the war that they will continue to be helped.
The Crown Custodian and Prince Radu met on Wednesday afternoon with representatives of the territorial branch of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania and with representatives of the Tulcea branch of the Red Cross National Society (SNCR), these meetings being part of the first official visit in the past two years of the Romanian royal family, according to Prince Radu.
"A message of thanks for all those who have helped so much those who are suffering, even if in Romania there are people who do not have a lot, but they gave what they could. When we first came to Romania, in 1989-1990, we saw that the people here are generous, hard-working and have big hearts. I am very proud of everyone who helped here. It's something beautiful," said to the press, at the end of the meetings, the Crown Custodian.
* From the beginning of this crisis, until March 15, at 24.00, at national level, 440,998 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania, the Border Police informs Wednesday.
* Two ballet dancers of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Ekaterina Tomashek (soloist) and Victor Tomashek (principal), refugees at the Sibiu Ballet Theater following the conflict in Ukraine, will dance, for the first time, on Saturday, during the Ballet Gala, according to a press release sent by the cultural institution of Sibiu.
"We couldn't remain indifferent to the drama that artists in Ukraine are facing in this terrible time of war, in which their country is invaded, that is why we answered without hesitation when the two dancers asked us if we can help them. Ekaterina and Victor Tomashek, which form a couple in day to day life, will dance together with the Sibiu Ballet Theater, until the situation allows them to return to their country. Ahead of this tragedy that is happening in the neighboring country, our obligation is to be united, to help when it is in our power to do so and with full faith, to hope that this terrible war will end and we will enjoy peace once more. I hope the applause on Saturday and Sunday of our audience bring to these dancers the joy and hope that we all so greatly need," said Ovidiu Dragoman, manager at the Sibiu City Culture House and Ballet Theater.
* A benefit concert for orphan children from Ukraine arriving in Romania will be organised at ARCUB on Saturday by the Silvestri Foundation, the Medici pentru Romania and Jojo associations, with support from the city hall. The collected donations will be redirected to the Emanuel Speranta Romania Foundation in Bihor County, which houses dozens of Ukrainian children from orphanages, and the refugee centre at Ghermanesti.
* A number of 750 hot meals will be offered daily to people in Ukraine who cross the border through the southeastern Isaccea border crossing point. The #soliDAR campaign, which provides hot meals and food for war-torn Ukrainian communities, is organized by the Act for Tomorrow Association, with the support of Kaufland Romania. Also, 200 hot meals (lunch and dinner) will be offered daily to refugees arriving in southeastern Constanta, and a truckload of necessary food and basic products will leave for Ukraine in the next period, informs a press release of the association sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.
* A new humanitarian transport consisting of industrial washing and drying machines, worth 330,000 lei, will leave for Chernivtsi, the city with which the municipality of Suceava is twinned, mayor Ion Lungu stated on Wednesday. The mayor of Suceava, Ion Lungu, specified that it is about four washing machines and the same number of dryers, equipment requested by the City Hall of Chernivtsi. According to Lungu, the amount of 180,000 lei remained unspent out of the total of 500,000 lei approved as aid for Chernivtsi, and the difference in money will also be allocated by a decision of the local council, which will be convened in an emergency meeting.
* The first transport with 1,200 beds made of pressed cardboard manufactured by Ambro Suceava company, having as destination the refugees from Ukraine, left on Wednesday for Chernivtsi/Cernauti, informed the vice-president of the County Council (CJ) Suceava Niculai Barba. According to Barba, the deputy governor of the Chernivtsi region, Artur Muntean, as well as the general manager of Ambro Suceava, Paul Henri Kohler, were also present at the preparation of the transport. Ambro has completed 1,900 of the total 2,000 beds that the company's management has announced to manufacture and is expected to reach Chernivtsi by the end of this week. Barba said that in the first transport, there were 1,200 beds, and the other 800 will be transported during Friday.
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