Ukraine Protection Cluster: Recommendations for GBV and non-GBV actors during evacuations

Introduction:

• In Ukraine, heavy and intense bombardments combined with ground fighting continued in 2024, resulting in a persistent pattern of civilian death and destruction with serious humanitarian impact. There are also attacks on energy infrastructure that are leaving many in Ukraine without power. Although no part of the country remained unaffected, people in the east and south bore the brunt of the devastation caused by the war. There are therefore mandatory and voluntary evacuations from the worst-affected areas (including Kharkivska, Donetska, Sumska, Zaporizka and Khersonska oblasts).

• GBV partners, along with the other humanitarian actors (and volunteers) are supporting evacuation efforts at both sites of evacuation and the sites where evacuees are received.

• This document provides recommendations for GBV AoR partners and for non-GBV Actors and Volunteer groups who work directly or indirectly with GBV survivors/those at-risk during emergency evacuation or temporary suspension of programme due to insecurity. The purpose of this document is to ensure that the GBV guiding principles and ‘do no harm principle’ are followed.

• Planning is required ahead of time to ensure that safety is maintained during any crisis situation and therefore it is recommended to have an internal plan in place for each actor who is working in the affected areas (even if there is currently no evacuation in that area).