Attachments
Highlights
• UNICEF has established 11 parenting rooms in health facilities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts along the contact line. More than 7,000 children and their parents have benefited from these services.
• During the reporting period, UNICEF provided psychosocial support to over 13,700 children on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• UNICEF digital campaign on MRE (from June to November) focusing on safe behaviour practices, concluded this month, reaching more than 1.8 million children on living in the Eastern Ukraine.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. In November, political instability increased in the nongovernment controlled areas (NGCAs) Luhansk. While reportedly no civilians were targeted, nor armed clashes between the conflicting parties registered so far, the general situation remains unpredictable.
The overall security situation in communities along the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remains unstable and slightly deteriorating, with daily ceasefire violations threatening the well-being of children and their families. During November, the daily shelling and shooting also damaged two educational facilities.
One of these attacks in the NGCA city of Dokuchaievsk on November 20th, damaged a kindergarten in which 50 children as well as parents and staff were present, though no injuries were reported.4 UNICEF continues to advocate with both sides for an end to attacks of schools and kindergartens and the removal of military presence from all educational facilities in line with the “Safe Schools” declaration.
With the onset of below-zero temperatures across eastern Ukraine, continued damages to water, heating and electrical infrastructure is creating further hardship for children. Key water filtration and pumping stations – including those with potentially dangerous liquefied chlorine – as well as a reservoir were hit by shelling and small arms in November though with comparatively minor damages compared to preceding months. The onset of strong winter-like weather conditions affecting the eastern part of the country are exacerbating already weak health systems as many conflict-damaged medical points remain unrepaired or are housed in temporary locations ranging from former administration buildings to classrooms in active schools.