Attachments
2018 Humanitarian Response Plan first objective:
‘Advocate for and respond to the protection needs of conflict-affected people, with due regard to international norms and standards’.
Since the conflict in Ukraine began in mid-April 2014, and until December 2017, at least 2,530 civilians were killed and between 7,000 and 9,000 were wounded in the conflict area. As of January 2018, the Ministry of Social Policy reports 1,492,100 internal displaced persons (IDPs) in the government controlled territory. The number of IDPs in territory under the control of armed groups is difficult to assess, in as much as there is not a systematic registration of the displaced population who settle in private accommodation with neighbours or relatives.
Protection Cluster partners in NGCA report that up to 10,000 IDPs may be residing in collective centres in Donetsk NGCA. As many as 4.4 million people now need protection and assistance in shelter, health, food security and nutrition and other key areas. The cluster approach was activated in Ukraine as the humanitarian crises is beyond the scope of any one agency’s mandate and the Protection Cluster (PC) is meant to facilitate predictable and quality response to the protection concerns stemming from the conflict. The Protection Cluster (PC) is an integral aspect of humanitarian effort of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and is accountable to the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC). UNHCR is the Protection Cluster Lead Agency.
Three sub-clusters have been formed within the Protection Cluster:
(i) Child Protection sub-cluster led by UNICEF
(ii) Gender Based Violence (GBV) sub-cluster led by UNFPA
(iii) Mine Action sub-cluster led by UNDP.
There is an Age and Disability Technical Working Group (chaired by HelpAge International) active under the Protection Cluster and a Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group (chaired by NRC), under the umbrella of the Protection and Shelter/NFI Clusters.
The Protection Cluster and sub-clusters are based in Kyiv, with a country-wide coverage. In the field, protection coordination is done through Protection Working Groups. Coordination meetings are convened in Kharkiv, Sievierodonetsk, Sloviansk and in Non-Government Controlled Areas.