This multi-sector needs assessment is a comprehensive report that outlines the key needs of the displaced Ukrainian populations in Slovakia. It identifies the most pressing needs in various areas including protection, health, education, accommodation, and livelihoods.

Published in January, the report is an inter-agency product designed in alignment with the objectives of the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Ukrainian refugee situation, specifically in support of Slovakia's inter-agency Refugee Response Plan. The initiative was spearheaded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) National Office in Slovakia and developed and conducted by an inter-agency task team, comprising UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). UNHCR, along with its partner the Slovak Humanitarian Council (SHC) and IOM, supported the implementation and data collection efforts.

Selected findings include:

• The most commonly reported needs were access to healthcare services, employment and livelihood support, and language courses. This marks a significant change from the 2022 results, where the top three priority needs were identified as food assistance, accommodation, and employment.
• For the academic year 2022-2023, 68% of school-age children were reported to have been enrolled and attending school in Slovakia. Among the 31% of school-age children not enrolled for the school year 2022/2023, the main reasons cited for non-enrolment were that the child was already attending Ukrainian distance learning (73%), and - at the time of data collection - households were still awaiting a response to their school application (14%).
• The majority (94%) of those interviewed reported having been granted temporary protection status in Slovakia, while 6% had not applied, did not plan to apply, or preferred not to answer. Overall, 7% reported having experienced some difficulty during the application process, with long queues being the most cited challenge. Regarding documentation, only 1% reported having at least one household member without an ID.
• The majority were aware of protection services in their area of residence (85%), including state social services (64%), followed by legal services (38%) and safe spaces (35%).
• When asked about assistance received in the last 3 months, 62% of respondents reported satisfaction, 30% reported not having received aid, and 5% reported dissatisfaction with the aid received.
• Regarding social cohesion, 28% reported having experienced tensions with the host community since arriving in Slovakia, mainly due to verbal aggression, discriminatory behavior, comments on social media and news forums, and physical attacks.

The assessment was conducted between July and August 2023, employing a quantitative approach that reached 819 households across the country, representing a total of 1 853 household members among the refugee population. The report will serve as a guide to further support the implementation of humanitarian interventions across Slovakia throughout 2024, ensuring a more focused approach and allowing for prioritisation as required.