To save from trouble. How R2P helped the homeless man

26.11.21

The specialists of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) were approached by the residents of one of the settlements near the contact line, who reported that a man born in 1959, who had not had a permanent residence for about two years, lived in their settlement. He periodically lives in the basements of apartment buildings and on the street.

The Fund’s social workers visited the settlement to obtain more detailed information and talk to the beneficiary. As a result, it was found out that the man is currently living in a summerhouse with a local resident. The house is not equipped with heating, there is no drainage, water supply, and other conditions for permanent residence.

The man speaks poorly, possibly due to a stroke he suffered, and needs a medical examination. He is not officially employed. It is impossible to issue a pension due to insufficient length of service, as evidenced by the official refusal of the territorial division of the Pension Fund. Man has the identity documents, employment record book, and education documents (previously restored by the house management representatives).

Employees of the R2P interviewed the man’s sister about taking him in, but the woman refused.

To help homeless man, a request was sent to the head of the Volnovakha City Civil-Military Administration for social protection, to register him as a homeless person, as well as further appropriate actions and measures under the Law of Ukraine “On Fundamentals of Social Protection homeless people and homeless children.”

As a result of joint work, a joint visit of employees of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P), the Center for Social Services, and the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Volnovakha City Territorial Community was carried out, during which a detailed explanation was provided regarding the registration of a man and the provision of services by the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Volnovakha City Territorial Community.

We have discussed the possibility of man’s placement in charitable rehabilitation centers, but the man refused the offer. The man was informed about the possibility of organizing his escort to the hospital and about receiving humanitarian aid.

As a result of the joint work, the man was registered as a homeless citizen at the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Volnovakha City Territorial Community, and a certificate of registration of a homeless person was issued.

Unfortunately, the problem of living conditions remains unresolved. The state of health (stroke) and the age of the man do not allow him to work, rent a house, and generally support existence on his own.

According to the results of the next visit to the beneficiary, it was established that he continues to live in an unsuitable place (summer country house) without heating, electricity, and water supply. During the visit, we have also recorded the absence of food, lack of proper sanitary, hygienic, and temperature conditions. His health condition is a cause for concern.

Being worried about his own life due to the gradual decrease in air temperature, the man appealed to us to help him settle in a communal or private boarding house in the Donetsk region.

Realizing that further deterioration of weather conditions, lower air temperature endangers the life of the citizen, employees of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) appealed to the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Volnovakha City Territorial Community to place a homeless person in boarding house.

But while this question is being solved, weather conditions worsen and the man freezes in a country house. R2P Team found a temporary place of residence in one of the charitable centers for six months, where he then was taken. Now we are reassured knowing that our beneficiary will spend the cold season in the warm and will be provided with the means of subsistence.

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12.11.21

CF «Right to Protection» (R2P) is now implementing a new Project aimed to improve the quality of the social services provided in the amalgamated territorial communities in eastern Ukraine.

Quality medical, social, educational, administrative services, new roads, and clean streets – all this should be available to every Ukrainian with the start of the decentralization. However, in some regions of Ukraine, the reform is still ongoing with its own peculiarities.

Соціальні послуги в громадах на сході України: БФ «Право на захист» продовжує реалізацію нового проєкту — Consequences of the hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
Photo – **Фотографії старого Львова**

For example, in eastern Ukraine, the international military conflict has made its negative adjustments.

First, the newly formed communities of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions did not have the opportunity to go through the path of voluntary unification, which has already passed more than 700 communities in Ukraine before the local elections in 2020. In addition, in a number of communities, local self-governments are absent as such. Local elections were not held there. Instead, there are civil-military administrations (CMAs), which perform the functions of the local self-government.
Second, areas near the ‘contact line’ have problems with the public transport. Often there is no connection between these settlements and the rest of the region. This hinders public access to all types of services that should be provided in communities.

In order to help community authorities to establish a system of social services that meets the needs of people, the R2P is currently implementing the project «Ensuring access to the social services in the amalgamated territorial communities (ATCs) along the contact line».

«This is the first project implemented by our Fund directly with the communities and for its residents. At the first stage, our specialists conducted a comprehensive study on the state of the social services system in 5 communities of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. During the research, a survey (questionnaire) of both social service providers in the community and recipients of social services was conducted. Also, we held focus group discussions. In addition, our specialists collected and processed a large number of statistics and information about the social infrastructure that operates in each of the communities.»
– says Oleg Lyubimov, Decentralization Coordinator of the CF «Right to Protection» (R2P).

As a result, each community now has a social passport. The document contains data on the area, administrative-territorial distribution, demographic situation in the territory, etc. Communities also received recommendations for improving and in some cases creating from scratch a system for providing, monitoring, and evaluating the quality of the social services. When developing such passports, our specialists found out which problems with the provision of social services exist in each individual community.

«The problems are the lack of sufficient qualifications and experience among the CMA employees and ignorance of the legal framework of Ukraine in the field of social protection. For example, we found out that in one of the communities nobody was responsible for the social protection of the population. Following our recommendations, a full-fledged department of social protection was created there, as well as a Center for the provision of social services in the community. In another community, they followed our advice to reform the CMA’s territorial center for social services and to provide the services that people need. In another community, we helped register a local utility in the State Register of the Social Service Providers. And to improve the work of the social protection specialists, we have prepared a collection of regulations «Social services in the community.»
– Oleg adds.

Specialists of the R2P continue to advise on various issues regarding the local governance, such as the economic development, land management, formation and implementation of the community budget, preparation and implementation of targeted local development programs, the organizational structure of Civil-Military Administration units, their utilities and more. And, of course, we continue to provide legal support in the creation and organization of the social protection units in amalgamated territorial communities.

«There are many requests from communities for methodological and advisory assistance. In particular, how to fill in the application forms for participation in tenders for projects that can be funded by various sources: State Fund for Regional Development, the state targeted development programs, international technical aid projects, etc. The support of local community authorities in land and communal property management needs attention. Previously, this was done by the units of the State Geocadastre, and there are simply no specialists of the appropriate level in the communities,»
– sums up Oleg Lyubimov, Decentralization Coordinator at R2P.

The next step in our work with the amalgamated territorial communities will be the continuation of the awareness-raising trainings for the employees of the Civil-Military Administrations, which we had already started in October.

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09.11.21

Working with the amalgamated territorial communities, in particular on the issues related to the integration, provision of legal aid, advice and necessary information to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) is one of the priority vectors of our organization.

The new project “Dialogues between IDP initiative groups and local authorities in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast”, implemented with the support of the German Federal Government within the framework of the Civil Peace Service program, envisages active work in this direction.

Діалоги між ініціативними групами ВПО та представниками місцевої влади у Дніпропетровській області

Existing local programs and action plans for their implementation do not provide for the protection of the rights of IDPs and their integration into the local communities.

Displaced persons without registration at the new place of residence are deprived of local social guarantees, having only the right to social benefits, which are also temporary. For more than seven years, the main need of IDPs was housing – comfortable, compliant with sanitary, fire, and other safety standards. Internally displaced persons want to have the same rights in the areas of social protection, health, education, science, and when doing business. And all this is more than possible to do at the community level, but unfortunately, IDPs are often out of the process of developing, discussing, and agreeing on the local programs.

At the same time, the project implemented by R2P in Ilarionivska, Slobozhanska, Zhovtovodska, and Vilnohirska Amalgamated Territorial Communities aims to change this situation and provide IDP initiative groups with the ability to protect their rights and influence the implementation of the relevant policies on the local level.

«The project proposes to review approaches aimed at ensuring the inclusion and integration of the IDPs into community life, giving them access to participation in the local programs, using the tools of local democracy and a number of other opportunities. Formation of the IDP initiative groups with their further formalization at the local level through the establishment of the IDP Advisory Council as a temporary advisory body to address issues related to the implementation of the state and local policies in the field of IDP protection, promoting their integration into the community, involving them in decision-making processes and supporting the host community during these processes.»
– notes Myroslava Sushchenko, the Coordinator of the Project at the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).

We suggest you watch the video recording of the press conference below to learn more about our Project on integration and support of the public activity of the IDP communities (video is in Ukrainian & Russian).

Правозахисники презентували проєкти, націлені на покращення діалогу між місцевою владою та переселенцями
[EN Below] 🇺🇦🤝 Робота з об’єднаними територіальними громадами, зокрема щодо питань, пов’язаних з інтеграцією переселенців, надання їм правової допомоги, консультацій та необхідної інформації є одним з пріоритетних векторів роботи нашої організації. 🔵 Новий проєкт «Діалоги між ініціативними групами ВПО та представниками місцевої влади у Дніпропетровській області», що імплементується за підтримки Федерального уряду Німеччини у межах програми «Громадянська служба миру» передбачає активну роботу саме у цьому напрямку. 👉 Існуючі місцеві програми та плани дій щодо їх впровадження не передбачають захисту прав внутрішньо переміщених осіб та їх інтеграції до місцевої громади. ❗️Переселенці без реєстрації за новим місцем проживання позбавлені місцевих соціальних гарантій, маючи лише право на соціальні виплати, які до того ж є тимчасовими. Понад сім років основною потребою ВПО залишається житло – комфортне, таке що відповідає санітарно-гігієнічним, протипожежним та іншим безпековим нормам. Внутрішньо переміщені особи бажають мати такі ж права у сферах соціального захисту, охорони здоров’я, освіти, науки та під час ведення бізнесу. І все це – більш ніж можливо зробити на рівні місцевих громад, але на жаль, ВПО часто знаходяться поза процесом розробки, обговорення та узгодження місцевих програм. ⚖️🛡 Водночас проєкт, який реалізує наш Фонд в Іларіонівська ТГ, Слобожанській, Жовтоводській та ВІЛЬНОГІРСЬКА ОБ’ЄДНАНА ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНА ГРОМАДА! громадах ставить за мету змінити такий стан речей і дати можливість ініціативним групам переселенців захищати свої права та впливати на впровадження відповідних політик на місцях. 💬 «В рамках проєкту пропонується переглянути підходи, спрямовані на забезпечення включення та інтеграції ВПО у життя громади, надання їм доступу до участі у місцевих програмах, використання інструментів місцевої демократії та низки інших можливостей. Формування ініціативних груп ВПО з подальшою їх формалізацією на місцевому рівні шляхом створення Консультативної ради ВПО як тимчасового дорадчого органу для розв'язання питань, пов’язаних із реалізацією державної та місцевої політики у сферах захисту ВПО, сприяння їх інтеграції в громаду, підтримки приймаючої громади в процесі інтеграції ВПО та їх залучення до процесів прийняття рішень.» – зазначає координаторка проєкту БФ «Право на захист» Мирослава Сущенко. 📺 Більше про проєкти з інтеграції та підтримки громадської активності переселенських спільнот на місцях пропонуємо вам переглянути у відеозаписі конференції нижче. ____________________________________________________ 🇺🇦 🤝 Working with the amalgamated territorial communities, in particular on the issues related to the integration, provision of legal aid, advice and necessary information to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) is one of the priority vectors of our organization. 🔵 The new project “Dialogues between IDP initiative groups and local authorities in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast”, implemented with the support of the German Federal Government within the framework of the Civil Peace Service program, envisages active work in this direction. 👉 Existing local programs and action plans for their implementation do not provide for the protection of the rights of IDPs and their integration into the local communities. ❗️Displaced persons without registration at the new place of residence are deprived of local social guarantees, having only the right to social benefits, which are also temporary. For more than seven years, the main need of IDPs was housing – comfortable, compliant with sanitary, fire, and other safety standards. Internally displaced persons want to have the same rights in the areas of social protection, health, education, science, and when doing business. And all this is more than possible to do at the community level, but unfortunately, IDPs are often out of the process of developing, discussing, and agreeing on the local programs. ⚖️🛡 At the same time, the project implemented by R2P in Ilarionivska, Slobozhanska, Zhovtovodska, and Vilnohirska Amalgamated Territorial Communities aims to change this situation and provide IDP initiative groups with the ability to protect their rights and influence the implementation of the relevant policies on the local level. 💬 “The project proposes to review approaches aimed at ensuring the inclusion and integration of the IDPs into community life, giving them access to participation in the local programs, using the tools of local democracy and a number of other opportunities. Formation of the IDP initiative groups with their further formalization at the local level through the establishment of the IDP Advisory Council as a temporary advisory body to address issues related to the implementation of the state and local policies in the field of IDP protection, promoting their integration into the community, involving them in decision-making processes and supporting the host community during these processes" – Myroslava Sushchenko, the Coordinator of the Project at the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P). 📺 We suggest you watch the video recording of the press conference below to learn more about our Project on integration and support of the public activity of the IDP communities. GIZ Ukraine GIZ: Perspectives for Eastern Ukraine
Опубліковано Право на захист Вівторок, 12 жовтня 2021 р.

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20.10.21

Today we present the report ‘Crossing the contact line’ for September 2021, prepared by the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P). The report is based on data collected during the monitoring of the situation on EECPs.

Only two of seven Exit-Entry Crossing Points (EECPs) remained open for crossing the contact line: Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast. COVID-19 measures continue to have an impact on the number of persons crossing the EECPs. In September less people crossed than in previous months. According to SBGS statistics, about 70,000 people crossed the contact line in September, while the figure was 91,000 for August. Anti-COVID-19 measures are cited by the de facto authorities as their reason to keep the other EECPs closed.

On 17 and 24 September, NGCA side of Novotroitske EECP was closed by the de facto authorities citing technical problems without any further explanations. Meanwhile, Novotroitske EECP on GCA side was open on those days. This closure prevented people crossing for purposes such as obtaining necessary medical treatment, visiting relatives or attending funerals of relatives on time. Such closures may in some cases lead to the deterioration of health of sick people and those who need special care.

In September, it has become possible to obtain a printable Covid-19 vaccination certificate at the Diya website. It means that people can get the certificate without visiting a medical facility even while being in the NGCA. However, a smartphone with Diya app or an electronic digital signature is needed.

During September, 10,159 vulnerable elderly persons were transported across the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by an electric vehicle provided by the NGO Proliska.

The report is based on the results of a survey, regularly conducted by the specialists of the Charitable Fund “Right to Protection” (R2P) at the five (currently – two) EECPs in the Government-Controlled Areas (GCA) and administered regularly since June 2017. The survey is a part of the monitoring of violations of the rights of a conflict-affected population within the framework of the project “Advocacy, Protection and Legal Assistance to the Internally Displaced Population” implemented by the R2P with the support of UNHCR. The purpose of a survey is to explore the reasons and concerns of those traveling from the NGCA to the GCA, as well as conditions and risks associated with crossing the ‘contact line’ through EECPs. The information collected in the survey helps identify protection needs, gaps, and trends, and provides an evidentiary basis for the advocacy efforts.

The report is available in

English

Ukrainian

05.10.21

Like the most of other people who lived in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Lydia was forced to leave her native Horlivka in 2014 due to the start of hostilities. Being hundreds of kilometers away from her home is not an easy challenge, especially for a person over 60.

For the first time, the woman settled in a modular town in Kryvyi Rih. Due to difficult living conditions (summer temperatures exceeded 38 degrees), the woman was forced to look for a new home again. That’s how she got acquainted with the local team of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).

In 2016, the monitoring specialist of the R2P Olena Pazenko helped Lydia move to a dormitory in Sofiyivka. The woman lived there for the next three years. But a modest pension which she received was not enough to pay the high cost of utilities. Lydia was forced to return to the modular town. Subsequently, the woman tried to find housing in the cities of Pokrov and Zhovti Vody, but all these attempts were in vain.

However, Lydia did not despair, and once our colleague offered to apply for temporary housing in a dormitory in Kryvyi Rih. The first floor of the building was reconstructed thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF) and local authorities.

There is one week left before the opening of this compact residence place. The woman still had to collect a package of documents, while many other IDPs had already handed them in. At first, it seemed that there was nothing to hope for. However, with the help of our colleagues, all the necessary documents were collected and submitted within one day.

Маленькі громади з великим серцем. Історія Девладівської ОТГ

«IDP’s applications for temporary housing are being considered by a Commission with the use of a priority-based scoring system. Ms. Lydia received approval of the Commission and was settled in a 1-room apartment in an apartment-type dormitory. Therefore, we emphasize that every internally displaced person has the right to submit documents and stand in line for temporary housing, even if the number of people in the queue exceeds the number of apartments available,»,
– said Myroslava Sushchenko, the head of the Dnieper-Zaporizhia office of the R2P.

Our colleague Olena Pazenko warmly tells about the recent meeting with Lydia:

«Recently, during a monitoring visit to the compact residence place, we talked to Ms. Lydia about her impeccable Ukrainian language and it turned out that her daughters graduated from the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology, and Ms. Lydia’s older brother is a famous Ukrainian poet Leonid Talalai, whose works are studied in schools. Mrs. Lydia is a bright person and very modest! I am so glad that our efforts were not in vain, I am glad to see her eyes shining with happiness – such moments give hope that in the future every person who was forced to leave home will definitely find it!»

Історія переселення: як пані Лідія нарешті знайшла свій новий дім у Кривому Розі

Today Lydia is finally happy and gets used to living in her new home.

We are sincerely glad that this story turned out to be a success. We wish Lydia to never feel any discomfort in her life again and to only feel warmth, coziness, joy, and happiness. We also thank the city authorities of Kryvyi Rih and the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund for their help in realizing Lydia’s dream.

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04.10.21

Because of the restrictions on crossing the ‘contact line’ through the Entry-Exit Checkpoints (EECPs), thousands of people have been deprived of their basic needs: pensions and social benefits, birth and death certificates, ability to visit and communicating with family members, access to their own property or to their permanent residence at all.

As a result, many residents of the Non-Government Controlled Areas (NGCA) decide to go to Government-Controlled Areas (GCA) through the Russian Federation and cross the Russian-Ukrainian International Border Crossing Points (IBCP) in Milove and Hoptivka. This trip necessarily takes much longer than crossing the ‘contact line’, and incurs additional expenses, for transportation, and, in many cases, the payment of a fine for illegally crossing the border.

The team of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) jointly with the UNHCR prepared a note “Going around the contact line. Information on movements of NGCA residents through the Russian Federation”.

This note is based on information collected by R2P at the two IBCP, SBGS statistic and observation, during monitoring visits from June till August 2021.

Note is available for viewing and download

In English and in Ukrainian.

UNHCR and the NGO Right to Protection (R2P) are grateful for the generous support provided by donors, including the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO); the Govern-
ments of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (DFID), the United States of America (PRM) as well as private citizens who are contributing funds through different UNHCR private associations such as España con ACNUR of Spain and the UNO Flüchtlingshilfe of Germany.

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01.10.21

This report provides the results of observation at all seven Entry-Exit Checkpoints (EECPs) and the survey conducted at two of them (Novotroitske EECP in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska EECP in Luhanska Oblast) in the first half of 2021. Additionally, the report also contains some preliminary observations at International-Border Checkpoints (IBCPs) from April to June of 2021.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The flow of crossing people continued to decline in 2021. According to the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) statistics, there were 6,589,000 crossings in the first half of 2019 and 2,656,000 crossings in the corresponding period of 2020, while only 274,000 crossings have taken place in the first half of 2021.

In the first half of 2019 and 2020 receiving state benefits and other cash-related issues were the most commonly cited reasons given for NGCA residents to cross the contact line, whereas in 2021 visiting relatives was their most common reason listed. Before the introduction of quarantine restrictions, long lines were a major concern at all EECPs. When crossings were allowed through two EECPs, possible issues with permits were most commonly cited by respondents in 2021 as reasons for their concern.

In the first half of 2021, UNHCR supported services facilitating the crossing of the EECPs. For example, at least 6,500 people were provided with help from R2P monitors with installing and running the mobile phone application Vdoma, and about 1,200 people were assisted by R2P in getting permissions for crossing from the Coordination Group. Also, 29,918 vulnerable elderly persons were provided with transport support at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by NGO Proliska’s electric vehicle.

In line with R2P advocacy, on 22 March 2021, amendments were made to Resolution #1236 on COVID‑19 measures that greatly facilitated the crossing procedure for foreigners. Foreigners who have permanent residence in Ukraine are no longer required to have insurance when crossing the contact line to GCA.

R2P monitors reported one fatality at zero checkpoint of Stanytsia Luhanska EECP in 2021. The primary cause of death was related to heart problems.

Сrossing the contact line remained possible only through two EECPs: Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast (see the table in section 8. Observations at EECPs)
More – in the full Report below.

Mid-Year Report is available in

Ukrainian and English

The survey is a part of the monitoring of violations of rights of the conflict-affected population including internally displaced persons (IDPs) within the framework of the project “Advocacy, Protection and Legal Assistance to the Internally Displaced Population of Ukraine” implemented by Charitable Foundation (CF) “Right to Protection” (R2P) in partnership with and with the financial support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The objective of the survey is to explore the motivations and concerns of the civilians travelling between the non-government-controlled areas (NGCA) and the government-controlled areas (GCA), as well as the conditions and risks associated with crossing the contact line through EECPs during the quarantine period. More statistical data are available on the 2021 Eastern Ukraine Checkpoint Monitoring Online Dashboard.

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30.09.21

Our colleagues continue to provide legal assistance to the communities in eastern Ukraine within the framework of the project “Ensuring access to social services in local communities along the contact line”. Recently, they paid working visits to the east of Ukraine, met with the participants of our project, and presented the first developments and results of the joint work.

In the spring of this year we began active work with the amalgamated territorial communities (ATCs) which were formed during the decentralization reform in Ukraine. This is an absolutely new experience for Ukraine, which is, of course, accompanied by the emergence of many problems throughout the country, especially in the east, near the contact line. Therefore, we have started cooperation with five ATCs, three of which (Sartanska, Marinska and Svitlodarska) are from the Donetsk region, and two (Hirska and Nyzhnyoteplivska) from the Luhansk region.

Допомога громадам. Як БФ «Право на захист» допомагає ОТГ створювати ефективну систему надання соціальних послуг Helping the communities. How R2P helps ATCs create an effective system for providing the social services

Last week our colleagues proudly presented the Draft of the Community Social Passport and discussed the results of a comprehensive study which the R2P conducted in the summer. With the use of focus groups and questionnaires, we have collected the information on the actual state of affairs in the system of social services in the communities, learned about the needs of people living in abovementioned communities, and so on. Team of the R2P had analyzed the results and announced them during the meetings. In the future, this data will help to create and maintain a working social protection system in every amalgamated territorial community in Ukraine.

“These are just the first steps. Next, it is required to create a system of communal institutions which provide social services, as well as to organize the structural units within the Amalgamated Territorial Communities, which not only will be responsible for providing social services to the locals, but also will conduct full monitoring and evaluation of the quality of the already provided services”
– notes Oleg Lyubimov, Decentralization Coordinator at CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).

We already have some fruitful results of our common work with the communities. Thus, in addition to the developed community social passports in Hirske, our employees helped to add the recently formed municipal institution of the Hirske City Civil-Military Administration (CMA) to the register of social service providers. In Marinka, our colleagues provided methodological assistance in preparing a project application for participation in the UNHCR grant competition.

We have also discussed the reorganization of the Bakhmutsky Territorial Center for Social Services, which was transferred to the balance of the Svitlodar City CMA. In Nyzhnyoteplivska ATC, we have discussed the options for providing social services to the community residents both on the basis of inter-municipal cooperation and via creating its own municipal institution, the Center for Social Services.

Lawyers of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) also advised the management of the amalgamated territorial communities on the financial support of the system of social services. Colleagues spoke about the various subventions provided to the local budgets from the state to support the ATCs and their social services system.

There is still lots of work to be done. Yet we hope that this work will yield fruitful results.

The project “Ensuring access to social services in local communities along the contact line” is implemented by the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ukraine.

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22.09.21

Today we present the report ‘Crossing the contact line’ for August 2021, prepared by the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P). The report is based on data collected during the monitoring of the situation on EECPs.

More statistical data is available on the Online Dashboard.

As in the previous months, crossing the contact line remained possible only through two out of the seven Exit-Entry Crossing Checkpoints (EECPs): Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast. Numbers of people crossing remained much lower than in the pre-COVID times. According to the data from the Joint Forces Operation Command and monitoring specialists of the R2P, in August about 70000 people crossed the contact line, around the same as in July. The other five EECPs have remained closed from the NGCA side since July 2020. Armed groups claim that this is being done due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

‘Crossing the contact line’, August, 2021 (REPORT) Перетин лінії розмежування через КПВВ, серпень–2021 (ЗВІТ)

Resolution 787 came into force on 5 August 2021. According to it, travelers entering Ukraine are generally required to self-isolate for ten days with the exception in certain cases. The installation of the smartphone GEO-tracking app “Vdoma” has become a mandatory requirement again for the first time since May 2020. Those who cannot install the Vdoma app are subject to observation in a state-run facility. If a person crossing from NGCA has been invited to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine, self-isolation is not necessary.

In August, 9029 vulnerable elderly persons were transported across the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by an electric vehicle provided by the NGO Proliska.

In August 2021, 1139 persons (51%) who entered Government-Controlled Areas (GCA) via Novotroitske EECP took antigen tests for COVID-19, while at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP it was 2289 persons who were tested (8% of those who entered GCA). Meanwhile, in Donetska Oblast, 109 people were referred to the observation facility, because they had no mobile phone and thus could not download the “Vdoma” app. There were no observation facilities in Luhanska Oblast.

Since Resolution 787 was adopted, people that were placed in the observation facility in Hostre settlement have faced difficult conditions. Since August 6, 2021, R2P Team had started monitoring the situation and conditions, there was no food in the facility until the 18-th of August. The problem was resolved thanks to the NGO “Proliska” intervention. Moreover, PCR tests were available only on Tuesdays, so that people sometimes had to wait for up to a week to be tested.

The total number of crossings in August 2021 was 90860. Almost 94% of all people crossing the contact line in August did it through the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP. In Donetska Oblast, 2612 people received authorization to cross the contact line in the GCA direction and 3205 to the NGCA, respectively. In the Luhanska Oblast, 42375 people crossed the contact line to the GCA and 42668 to the NGCA.

The report is available in

English

Ukrainian

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