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Ukraine + 2 more

Ukraine: UNHCR Operational Update, 11 June - 15 July 2016

Attachments

Key Figures

  • 72.9 per cent
    of people crossing the line of contact are concerned about insecurity
  • 61 per cent
    cross by private cars
  • 43.3 per cent
    are aged 40-65
  • 74.3 per cent
    travel to visit relatives
  • 51.8 per cent
    cross the line of contact every month

Funding

USD 34.8 million
requested for the operation in 2016

Priorities

  • Leading the Protection and Shelter/NFI Clusters.
  • Supporting the Government of Ukraine on IDP and refugee/asylum issues.
  • Advocacy on freedom of movement, humanitarian access, and other concerns.
  • Provision of humanitarian assistance, especially near the line of contact and in the non-government controlled area.

Highlights

  • Situation overview: During the reporting period, the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile and tense.
  • Protection concerns: Freedom of movement across the line of contact remains a primary concern. The suspension of social and pension payments to IDPs until their residential address is verified is an ongoing concern.
  • Legislation update: The Council of Ministers adopted Resolution no. 365, controlling the transfer of social payments to IDPs at their place of residence.
  • Assistance provided: Since 11 June, UNHCR provided non-food items (NFIs) and emergency shelter assistance to more than 700 people.

Operational Context

The security situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile and unstable. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reports continued violations of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Fighting continued on the line of contact in Donetsk region between Donetsk airport and Avdiivka and in the area Horlivka as well as east of Mariupol around Shyrokyne.

Freedom of movement of people across the line of contact remains highly restricted. Long queues of 200-400 cars are observed at checkpoints, with people queuing up to eight hours to cross the line. Challenges include the risk to personal safety of being on the line of contact, limited operating hours of checkpoints, technical problems with registration systems, the extortion of bribes, frequent changes to the rules and lack of shelter and sanitation facilities. The checkpoint at Zaitseve was closed on 12 June due to shelling. The checkpoint at Zolote-4 remains closed since 31 March. In order to alleviate some of the suffering of those waiting to cross the line of contact, UNHCR is in the process of installing weather shelters at checkpoints on the line of contact at Hnutove, Mariinka, Novotroitske and Stanytsia Luhanska, assisting some 10,000 people per day.

The suspension of social assistance and pension payments for IDPs pending verification of residential addresses remains a key protection concern. UNHCR’s partners provide assistance to IDPs on how to reinstate the payments. The reregistration process is more difficult for those living in non-government controlled areas due to the necessity to cross the line of contact and lack of available information, particularly for the elderly and other vulnerable groups. The procedure for reinstatement from the moment of application to the receipt of payments takes approximately one month.

Humanitarian access to the non-government controlled area of Donetsk remains limited for all UN agencies and other international organizations pending “registration” with de facto authorities. While the “registration” of UN agencies remains on hold, UNHCR implements its activities in Donetsk through NGO partners, conducting protection monitoring and implementing community-based projects. In the non-government controlled area of Luhansk, UNHCR’s “registration” with de facto authorities expired on 23 April and has not yet been renewed. This has not affected UNHCR’s activities in the area to date; UNHCR continues to implement its programmes and to conduct some protection monitoring activities.

Damage assessment and the distribution of non-food items (NFIs) and shelter materials to the affected population continues unhindered.

Displaced people continue to report the lack of livelihoods as a key concern. A shortage of employment opportunities and the general economic situation facing Ukraine has particularly affected the displaced, forcing many to live in inadequate housing such as collective centres and other temporary accommodation. At present, there are 271 such collective centres housing over 10,000 people. Other IDPs stay with host families, volunteers and in private accommodation, though affordable private accommodation is often in poor condition. The lack of livelihoods and adequate housing greatly restrict the possibility to find lasting solutions.