Prague unveils chatbot for Ukrainian refugees

It claims to be the first city in the EU to launch such a communication tool

On 9 May, the Czech capital announced that it has become the first city in the EU to introduce a chatbot for Ukrainian refugees. With the new communication tool, those fleeing their homeland will be able to access the information they need quickly and easily, as the chatbot provides answers to the most frequently asked questions by refugees.

According to a press release by the municipality, some of these questions include:

1. What should one arrange immediately upon arriving in Czechia?
2. What forms of support are available, and where can one access them?
3. What must one look out for when searching for housing and employment?
4. How can one integrate their children into society and the country's educational system?

While the chatbot mainly aims to facilitate the arrival of refugees, it also seeks to inform others how they can provide Ukrainians with support. Taking this further, the communication tool also features a detailed description of all the services provided by the Regional Assistance Centre in Prague.

Available in both Ukrainian and Czech

Interpreters volunteered to translate the chatbot’s services for free, making it available in both Ukrainian and Czech. Considering that the chatbot primarily targets Ukrainian refugees, the translation of the services was absolutely crucial. In fact, current data has now revealed that nearly 80% of the communication tool's users choose Ukrainian instead of Czech.

"Prague is the first city in Europe to allow Ukrainian citizens to communicate about the life situations they have been dealing with in recent days through an interactive chatbot on the website pomocukrajine.praha.eu. Thank you to all the interpreters who contributed selflessly to the creation of the project. This solution will help refugees find their way in a difficult life situation and save time,” commented the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib.