General Coordination Meeting – Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk Oblast) 06 August 2015
Discussion Action Points/Decisions 1. Update of the current humanitarian situation in Oblast from LOMCA and SES Luhansk oblast SES will provide information about the needs in food stock for transition center to address Representative of Luhansk SES informed that 2,200 ha were demined in GCAs of the oblast with 17,000 attention of appropriate humanitarian organizations and UXO removed (only 10% of this number are remnants of the World War II). then possible assistance.
SES received 300 folding beds and 300 sleeping bags from UNHCR in response to the request during the visit to transition center in July 2015. Other humanitarian actors are invited to visit the site to inspect the facility and see what else is needed. These centers are arranged according to the Cabinet of Ministers order and despite the most of the equipment are available including kitchen facilities, there is no stock of food with long shelf life. Another issue requiring support is arrangement of outdoor lighting (supply of cable and bulbs); generator for this aim is in place and can be used in case of emergency.
The need in construction materials for converting firefighting unit into winterized transition center still remains and support is welcomed. The Regional branch of the National Red Cross Society provided water tanks for the stock of drinking water.
It was mentioned by SES representative that water pumping facilities in all districts require generators with the stock of fuel to ensure steady operation of water supply system in case of power failure.
OCHA representative shared information received from LOMCA concerning the plans for logistic centers in the areas along the contact line. There are plans to establish logistic centers in Popasna with access to “one-stop train” from NGCAs and Gorodnye (Stanyshno-Luhansnkyy raion) for road access. People from NGCAs will have opportunity to buy a range of product according to prices in GCA, have access to banking, social services etc.
On 5th of August President of Ukraine signed amendments to the Law on Humanitarian Aid that among other things puts more obligations on oblast administrations. Special body to administer the issues related to humanitarian aid will be established. The participants were invited to read the whole text of the document on official website.
The conclusions of discussions at the latest Humanitarian Community Retreat were that the problems caused by the conflict in the east of Ukraine are not visible to the world community as conflict in other parts of the world. This restricts the support provided to the country. More information is needed to ensure the local pictures of situation for the donors and here the involvement of all partners is valuable.
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Discussion Action Points/Decisions 2. Emergency Shelter/NFI NRC will present results of fuel needs assessment at the next General Coordination Meeting. UNHCR provided 300 folding beds and 300 sleeping bags for SES transition center in Sievierodonetsk. Partners to consider opportunity for NFI support to Organization also plans to support conversion of another building with the construction materials. Luhansk National Pedagogical College. As response to the needs identified during OCHA field visit to Markivskiy raion 60 sets of bed linen were delivered for kindergarten in the raion.
The request for mattresses, pillows, blankets and bed linen for student’s dormitory in Starobilsk where the Luhansk National Pedagogical University moved from Luhansk (about 11 000 students) was passed to the participants of the meeting.
NRC continues construction material distribution in the areas along the contact line. On the eve of winter NRC is conducting fuel need assessment in the settlement along the contact line, the results will be announced at the next meeting.
Mercy Corps has delivered construction materials to Shchastya and plans to start repair work of two 5- storey apartment houses. The lists of beneficiaries of NFI cash assistance are ready and the cash distribution via Oschadbank starts soon.
The Regional branch of the National Red Cross Society has completed voucher for construction material programme in Lysychansk (supported by the Austrian Red Cross).
3. Education
The activity of Education Cluster continues. The first sub-cluster meeting for Luhanska and Donetska oblasts is planned for the following weeks.
Under UNICEF (Japanese project 1) and in cooperation with UNDP the renovation of 2 schools started in Rubyzhne and Lysychansk. The schools will also receive furniture and blackboards. It is planned to deliver 10 school kits to each school and kindergarten of the oblast.
The Regional Society of Red Cross asked the humanitarian partners to consider opportunities for providing assistance in preparing children for school – uniform, school kits and school bags.
4. Food security UN FAO to contact LOMCA to discuss the procedure of obtaining permits for delivering shipments to the areas WFP has signed partner agreements with Mercy Corps and ADRA to implement voucher and cash along the contact line. programmes in the oblast. The absence of common database of beneficiaries and access to NGCAs remain the main issues in the activity.
Mercy Corps launchers cash for food programme in GCAs of the oblast that is targeted to cover 11,000
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Discussion Action Points/Decisions beneficiaries. The call-center is open and provides information to beneficiaries.
The Regional branch of the National Red Cross Society distributes food aid in Novoaydar, Rubizhne and Sievierodonetsk. The Red Cross representative stressed that the voucher and cash programmes have to include vulnerable groups of local population as well not and not to be limited with assistance to IDPs only to reduce tension in the hosting communities.
UN FAO is in the process of purchasing 500 tons of wheat and corn through the tender. 7,000 chickens will be delivered for 350 families in Popasnyanskyy raion on the 21 of August. This is a pilot project aimed at improving food ration of the families in the affected area and it will be replicated should the project proves its efficiency. The families will also receive full-valued fodder to feed the poultry during 3 months. UN FAO envisages problems in delivering chickens and fodder to some settlements along the contact line due to the requirement of fiscal bodies to prove the humanitarian nature of the cargo as UN FAO is not registered in Ukraine.
UN FAO also cooperates with the local NGO that will carry out household survey to identify the needs in developing small farming.
5. Health care services
WHO noted that shortage of medication and necessary medical equipment is the main problem in the oblast. It was announced that negotiations in UNDP headquarters in Kiev resulted in approval of allocation of some funds for the purchase of medical equipment for hospitals in Luhanska oblast within UNDP Community Based Development projects – phase III.
WHO representative stressed that some beneficiaries and organizations apply for aid to several humanitarian partners in parallel and it leads to the need of coordination to avoid duplication in responding to these requests. Cluster Leads/Focal Points can serve as coordinators provided that they receive information from all partners.
The doctors from the hospitals requested for training on how to deal in emergency situation, including assistance prioritizing and dealing with gunshot wounds.
ACF conducted mental health training for the Red Cross staff and for the staff of the hospital in Starobilsk.
MdM is in the process of establishing office in Sievierodonetsk. The organization plans to support primary healthcare services along the contact line, to deliver drugs as well as to meet individual needs.
Centre for psychological adaptation of IDPs (located in Sievierodonetsk at 55, Gvardeyskiy avenue) provides psychological training to specialists to address crisis situations. The organization also provides group and individual counselling based on the identified needs and it can arrange specific training or
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Discussion Action Points/Decisions counselling for the target groups (e.g. young mothers affected by conflict).
In terms of mental health services ADRA offers massage sessions for IDPs. There is also playroom arranged where the children can be left under the care of the psychologists.
6. Livelihood/ Early Recovery
Implementation of UNDP/CBA project continues in the oblast and includes three main components: assistance to IDPs, support to rural communities and support to urban communities. In the rural areas the project is aimed at improvement of the social infrastructure. The activity includes enhancement of the community capacity to make common decision, implement projects and attract donors. Decision about financing of 6 facilities has been made; another 16 projects are waiting for approval. It is planned to renovate 32 facilities in total.
During the visit of UNDP economic development project manager the forms for cooperation were agreed between the project and the local authorities. The business infrastructure support project was presented. The estimation of the engineering construction of the economic objects selected for rehabilitation started. The evaluation of application for job creations is at the finishing stage.
Under UNDP Project on Rapid Response to Social and Economic Issues of IDPs in Ukraine the tender for development or rehabilitation of SME will be announced in the near future. The selection will be based on the quality of applications. Another tender is aimed at selection of the contractor to develop information materials to present organizations providing support to IDPs.
Contacts with the local authorities at all levels were established under UNDP Restoration of Governance and Reconciliation in Crisis Affected Communities of Ukraine Project. The needs assessment in support to decentralization is under way.
7. Protection Protection partners will organize a meeting and discussions with the Department of Education to address UNHCR is planning to have regular protection group meeting in the middle of August 2015. New actors the issue of school enrolment of pupils that are transferred from protection cluster if any are invited. from NGCAs.
UNHCR highlighted two main protection issues: 1. Starting from July 1, the hospitals in the so called “LPR” stopped issuing birth certificates (spravka) with the Ukrainian stamp that makes it impossible for the parents or relatives to have the Ukrainian Certificate of Birth issued in GCAs. The parents can have the so-called “LPR” Certificate of Birth issued that leaves the child in fact without recognized citizenship. With time there will be people without legal citizenship. The actions from LOMCA are needed to ensure registration mechanism. R2P referred to discussion of this issue with the Department of Justice and their opinion is that such registration is only possible via court.
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Discussion Action Points/Decisions 2. In May-June the schoolchildren in NGCAs received student’s report cards. Some parents want to enroll their children to schools in GCA allowing them to receive the Ukrainian secondary school certificate. It is reported that the Department of Education started an initiative and set up the Review Commission, nevertheless the Ministry of Education rejected the idea and education level of pupils. As a result the pupils have to repeat the academic year again that they had covered in NGCA. Still it is proposed to look for some mechanisms that would help the pupils to avoid losing one year. Apparently this issue was not raised at the national level as this well can be the problem of Luhanska and Donetska oblasts mainly.
The notary register got closed in NGCA and Stanychno-Luhanskyy raion. This will mainly affect pensioners, who make powers of attorney for actions in relation to pensions. This will also impact the parents, who need power of attorney from the other parent in case a child travels with one parent only.
There is still no common mechanism for registering the people that arrive from the settlements along the contact line, as these settlements are not included into the list of ATO areas, as per Resolution #1085. Luhanska and Donetska Oblasts are the only oblasts where Social Protection Departments use this list instead of information from SSU about ATO areas.
In the framework of its project R2P continues providing assistance in individual cases (train ticket purchase, purchase of medicines etc). It was underlined that the coordination is needed to avoid duplication, in case the person applies to several organizations in parallel.
NRC pointed out to the changes in registration process of unemployed. If the validity date of the IDP certificate has expired, then the unemployed has no right to continue registration and loses eligibility for unemployment benefit. The situation can be resolved only by extending the validity period of the certificate.
Although under current regulations, the tenant (including IDP) has the right to apply for the housing subsidy, the procedure makes it impossible in practice, as the landlords don’t want to make an official rent agreement and transfer customer accounts for public utilities to the tenant’s name in fear of losing their property. Further discussions with appropriate authorities are required to find solutions.
Representative from UNICEF informed about opening an office in Kramatorsk to ensure coordination of Child Protection Sub-Cluster in the east of Ukraine and closer cooperation with the local actors. The issue of unaccompanied minors was discussed at the national level.
For the moment SOS CV is the biggest UNICEF implementing partner in the oblast. SOS CV operates family support centers in Sievierodonetsk, Novopskov, Belokurakino and Starobilsk (GCAs) and Luhansk (NGCAs) providing social and psychological assistance to IDP families. It was underlined that the centers also provide support to local population. This organization also cooperates with NRC and plans to carry out joint activity in NGCAs. It aims to establish 2 more offices in NGCAs and cover bigger number of
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Discussion Action Points/Decisions parents and children.
UNHCR provides grants to develop IDP local initiatives aimed at community cohesion. The selection of projects has already started. It was noted that Luhanska oblast submitted many interesting projects.
8. Other issues
R2P draw attention to the situation on the border crossing point in Milove where many people cross the border on the way to NGCAs via Russian Federation. There is no doctor or any medical service at the crossing point, no WC arranged. Representative of SES informed that the Head of Raion Administration received the order to arrange the tents and places for rest at the checkpoints.
Contact persons: Ms. Tagui Melkumyan, Humanitarian Advisor of OCHA sub-office in Sievierodonetsk, phone - +380503824540, e-mail – [email protected] Ms. Elena Kutsel, Field Assistant of OCHA sub-office in Sievierodonetsk, phone - +380503824532, e-mail – [email protected]
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