Today we publish the report ‘Crossing the contact line’ for December 2020, prepared by ‘Right to Protection’. It is based on data collected during the monitoring of the situation on EECPs. 

More statistical data is available on the Eastern Ukraine Checkpoint Monitoring Online Dashboard

HIGHLIGHTS:   

• During the month, crossing the contact line remained possible only through two EECPs: Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast, at a level considerably below the pre-COVID period.
• In December, about 443 people were authorized to cross to the government-controlled areas (GCA) at the Novotroitske EECP and about 893 people crossed the contact line to nongovernment-controlled areas (NGCA). At Stanytsia Luhanska EECP over 21,000 people crossed the contact line to GCA and over 25,000 people to NGCA.
• On 25 November, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 1161 with the aim of legally regulating the procedure for crossing the contact line through temporarily closed EECP for cases of humanitarian nature. Such grounds are recognized as: return to the place of residence; family reunification; serious illness; the death of close relatives; the need to provide medicines or undergo treatment; departure from NGCA for permanent or temporary residence in another state; crossing the EECP by a child accompanied by one of the parents; crossing the EECP for the purpose of visiting an educational institution for training; the need to ensure the protection of national interests or in connection with the fulfillment of international obligations by foreign diplomats; acceptance of inheritance. No change in the crossing process was observed on the ground following the release of the resolution.
• During the month of December, 8,222 vulnerable elderly persons were provided with transport support at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by the NGO “Proliska” e-vehicle.

The document is available in English and in Ukrainian. 

The report is based on the results of a survey conducted by R2P at the five EECPs to enter the NGCA and administered on a regular basis since June 2017. The survey is a part of the monitoring of violations of rights of conflict-affected populations within the framework of the project ‘Advocacy, Protection, and Legal Assistance to IDPs’ implemented by R2P, with the support of UNHCR. The purpose of the 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 line of contact through EECPs. The information collected in the survey helps identify protection needs, gaps, and trends, and provides an evidentiary basis for advocacy efforts.