NRC in Ukraine

Humanitarian overview

The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, has remained unresolved despite diplomatic efforts and numerous cease-fire agreements.

Some 4.4 million people have been affected by the conflict and about 800,000 people are internally displaced. Meanwhile, over ten thousand have been killed and 25,000 wounded – including civilians. Over 1.9 million people, including 220,000 children, live in areas that are heavily contaminated with mines.

About 3.4 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. Civilians living along the so-called contact line, which separates government controlled areas and non-government controlled areas, are considered the most vulnerable. Here, employment is scarce, medical care is difficult to access, and many don't have adequate food, shelter or heating.

Although freedom of movement is a challenge, about one million civilians risk their lives by crossing the contact line every month, despite armed clashes, to maintain family ties, look after property, and access markets or health care.

  
NRC’s operation

We support internally displaced Ukrainians and conflict-affected communities in government controlled areas of Luhansk region and in the northern districts of Donetsk region, especially along the contact line.

Our support addresses basic needs, but as displacement becomes protracted, we have also begun to contribute to durable solutions. Our activities in the country are shifting from emergency relief to early-recovery and recovery.

Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)

 
From January until April 2018, we provided legal information services to 2,017 people, legal counselling to 3,226 people and assistance to 561 individuals.

Our ICLA teams:

• operate three legal aid centres
• dispatch mobile teams of lawyers
• make home visits to the elderly and people with disabilities
• run a telephone hotline for legal information
• conduct research and advocacy efforts on legal issues concerning displaced civilians and civilians affected by the conflict
• help strengthen capacity of local lawyers and legal aid centres run by the state on the rights of internally displaced people

 
In total, in January - April 2018, we provided legal services to 6,034 people.
 

Livelihoods and food security

 
We work to restore Ukrainians' self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods. For communities living along the contact line, we improve access to local markets. During January - April of 2018, we assisted 5,703 individuals through various projects and activities.

Our livelihoods and food security team:

• provides cash transfers, so people can buy food
• assists the most food insecure households and communities to restore infrastructure of vital importance for community welfare
• provides agricultural assistance to restore production capabilities
• provides small business development grants to stimulate economic recovery
• assists unemployed internally displaced and other conflict-affected people to increase employability through vocational training courses
• supports the establishment of community centres for displaced people and host communities
• supports expansion of public services to improve their accessibility in remote areas, such as trainings for unemployed and agricultural extension services

Shelter and settlements

 
We work to make sure that displaced Ukrainians and civilians along the contact line in Luhansk region have roofs over their heads, heating, fuel for the winter months, and necessary household items. Between January- April 2018, 2,115 families received cash assistance to purchase solid fuel or winterisation items. We supported 300 families in remote communities with insulation materials for attic and windows to decrease heat losses. 463 people have received cash grants to purchase personal insulation items. We have also provided firewood, coal, blankets and heaters to 14 educational and 16 social institutions, assisting more than 8,700 people.

Our shelter team:

• provides emergency shelters, recovery shelter with light and medium, heavy repair, and full reconstruction of houses
• repairs community infrastructure, like hospitals, centres for elderly, schools, and orphanages
• prepares civilians for the cold winter temperatures with fuel, proper housing insulation and warm clothes
   

In total, between January and April 2018, we helped 13,772 people with shelter solutions, cash grants, non-food items and fuel.