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Alert
Ukraine
IDP situation in Ukraine requires urgent response
Geneva, 9 December 2014
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
As a result of the Crimean crisis and the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine thousands of people left their homes in Ukraine. According to latest reports (UNHCR, 28 November 2014) forced displacement is rising in Ukraine with an estimated 501,157 people internally displaced. Besides the continuously raising number of IDPs more than 5 million people are living in conflict zone or affected somehow due to the continuing fights in Easter Ukraine. In addition, according to the Federal Migration Service of Russia, in 2014, nearly 830 thousand people arrived in Russia from the regions of hostilities in Ukraine.
The rise in numbers of the past month coincides with a recent deterioration of the situation in Eastern Ukraine. Worsening of law and order, fear of abductions, human rights violations and the disruption of state services have been reported. Most IDPs in Ukraine and refugees in Russia are currently accommodated with relatives or in temporary shelters, such as schools, recreation centers and cultural centers that are not quite suitable for living especially in winter.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
According to local church structures in Ukraine and Russia, providing assistance to IDPs/refugees, the IDPs and refugees (including in temporary accommodation centers) are currently in dire need of warm blankets, bedding, hygiene items (including diapers for children, feminine pads and antiseptics), and psychological assistance. Although significant international aid was provided to IDPs, the winterization and mid-term basic needs of displaced persons' are not yet covered.
According to HIA survey done in last days through its network, most IDPs from the Eastern region have reported leaving with limited belongings, and are in need of shelter, food and non-food items such as winter clothing. In the Eastern region primary health care services have been jeopardized, with shortages reported in emergency medical services, essential medications and medical supplies. In all regions receiving IDPs the social integration, housing and employment of displaced have become constant challenges. Numerous people are returning or trying to return to their homes however they have to face partly or fully damage houses and dysfunctional infrastructure.
3. National and international response
The Ukrainian government recently adopted a law (2290a) to ensure rights and freedoms of IDPs. According to the new law, among different tax relief, the registered IDPs may receive maximum 2,400 UAH (126 EUR) monthly for housing allowance for maximum 6 months; people unable to work may receive 880 UAH (46 EUR); and IDPs able to work may receive 440 UAH (24 EUR) support for two months. Out of the 130,000 IDPs who were considered for assistance 50,000 people have received already their first installments. According to the housing and living prices in Ukraine, the financial aid provided to IDPs is not enough to cover all expenses. Besides the various support of the Ukrainian government UN bodies, international aid organizations and local NGOs are active in the country.
On 22 July 2014, the Russian government has introduced a de facto ban for Ukrainian refugees: they cannot obtain the refugee status and temporary asylum in several regions of the country (including the border areas and major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg). Therefore, the Federal Migration Service of Russia offers Ukrainian refugees to move to other regions of the Russian Federation and stay in temporary accommodation centers or at their relatives’, the transfer expenses can be covered from the federal or local budget. However, even without this formal decision, the procedure for obtaining refugee status or asylum in Russia has been extremely time-consuming. Thus most Ukrainian refugees, who found shelter with relatives in various regions of Russia, cannot collect the necessary documents and do not have this status.
4. ACT Alliance response
Responding to the emergency situation in Ukraine, ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid –HIA- (working in Ukraine since 1998) was among the first agencies that provided medical and psychosocial assistance (rehabilitation of 47 people in Hungary) to the affected population and later provided food and NFI assistance to IDPs in Ivano Frankivsk and Lviv with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and private donors. In Ivano Frankivsk the IDP coordination center has been established on the basis of an earlier HIA capacity building process for Western Ukrainian stakeholders. The coordination mechanism includes the establishment of a coordination committee with state and non-state actors, regular meetings and establishment of IDP reception centers, registration of and contracting with the arriving IDPs.
Meanwhile, ACT member Russian Orthodox Church –ROC/RRT- promptly began to provide emergency assistance to victims of armed conflict in Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. This work is carried out on both sides of the border – both in Ukraine and in Russia. Parishes in Russia and Ukraine from the very beginning were actively involved in providing accommodation and catering for people that were forced to leave their homes and became refugees and IDPs. In the areas that border the conflict zone and received the most refugees and IDPs, the Church has organized hot meals and distribution of food, water and clothing; helped to find space for temporary accommodation, provided housing in its institutions for nearly 2,000 people; the clergy and church volunteers take part in drawing up lists of refugees/IDPs and identifying those most in need (disabled, elderly, mothers with many children, needy), as well as monitor the most pressing needs.
5. Planned activities
Both ACT members, Hungarian Interchurch Aid –HIA- and Russian Orthodox Church -ROC/RRT- plan to issue one ACT appeal to response to this emergency.
ACT member HIA is planning to carry out relief activities in Western and Eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Ivano Frankivsk, Lviv, Transcarpathia) to support the IDPs. HIA plans to distribute basic food and NFI for the most vulnerable IDPs (large families, with more than 2 children) with special focus on winterization. The assistance will contain basic food, hygienic items and blankets and HIA also wishes to contribute to the heating of houses where IDPs are placed. The approximate budget of HIA is about USD 250,000.
ACT member, ROC/RRT plans to alleviate the need of the most vulnerable refugees and IDPs (disabled, elderly, mothers with many children) with warm bedding, hygiene essentials and psychosocial rehabilitation. Particular attention will be given to children and women. The assistance will be provided on the territory of Ukraine (Kiev and the Kiev region) and the regions of Russia bordering with Ukraine. The approximate budget of ROC/RRT project is USD 595,000.
6. Constraints
Instable security situation, difficulties in cooperation with state authorities, possible outages in electricity and gas supply, obstructed movement of humanitarian shipments within the country.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to the Head of Finance and Administration, Line Hempel (Line.Hempel@actalliance.org).
