FACT SHEET Photo: Nov 2016 Photo: NRC/

Norwegian Refugee Council’s Country programme in Ukraine

NRC established an initial presence in Ukraine in late 2014, with its operations centred in Severodonetsk (Luhansk oblast).

Our impact In 2015 NRC reached

Since becoming operational in eastern Ukraine, 63,607 NRC has progressively expanded activities as Individuals, with Information, concerns programme responses, core Counselling and Legal Assistance competencies and geographic reach in order to (ICLA), Shelter, Non-Food Assistance address evolving humanitarian needs (NFI) and Water, sanitation and The NRC strategy has focused on addressing the hygiene (WASH) needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and conflict-affected communities, especially along the Budget: 45 million NOK front-lines (the so-called “contact-line”) in Luhansk Donors: NMFA, UNHCR, ECHO, DFID oblast (both in government controlled areas (GCA) International staff: 8 and non-government controlled areas (NGCA). In National staff: 76 March 2016, NRC expanded activities into districts of northern Donetsk oblast (GCA), which is another Established: 2014 location of a very high IDP concentration. In July 2016, NRC opened a field office in Stanytsia Luhanska (Luhansk oblast), which provides protection and assistance services to civilians in stabilisation in communities away from the front- this front-line district – including to the thousands line and the reduction in intensity of the conflict in who travel regularly between GCA and NGCA at the many localities, there is an evolution from purely crossing point in this town. emergency towards early recovery needs; consequently, in 2016 NRC has initiated some NRC provides basic support to improve the living activities to address such needs (livelihoods). conditions of the most vulnerable conflict-affected population in GCA through cross-sectoral assistance and protection. With the relative www.nrc.no

1 Areas of operation: Luhansk and Donetsk Regions Country office: Kyiv

Humanitarian and political context this, mine/ERW contamination is a major concern in many areas and continues to be a serious threat to civilians in many front-line communities. Despite two years of negotiations to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine, hostilities remain a fact The civilian population in eastern Ukraine of life for millions of people affected both directly continues to be affected by the conflict. The and indirectly by the armed violence. Although Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2016 efforts continue to implement the provisions of the estimates some 3.7 million persons have been Minsk II agreement established in February 2015 affected, directly or indirectly, by the armed between the parties to the conflict, negotiations conflict, of whom some 3.1 million require have yet to produce effective steps towards conflict humanitarian assistance. This includes an resolution. estimated 800`000 people living in front-line communities along the contact-line (200,000 in The situation along the front-lines in both Luhansk GCA and 600,0000 in NGCA), as well as an and Donetsk oblasts remains volatile. As ceasefire additional 2.1 million people living in NGCA. The violations along the contact-line increased through conflict has caused the displacement of some 2.7 July-August 2016, so to did concern for the million persons, including some 1.7 million humanitarian situation of civilians. In some registered IDPs (per the Ministry of Social Policy of localities, shelling became more frequent, adding Ukraine). Since the beginning of the conflict, to the risks faced by the thousands of civilians 22,236 people have been wounded and 9,578 living along the contact-line or crossing between killed; serious human rights concerns persist, GCA and NGCA. Although a renewed ceasefire according to the latest report of the UN Human came into effect in September, this has not Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (September substantially decreased the military engagements 2016)

Contact: Country director: Christopher Mehley Country office: Kyiv Phone: +380 67 828 5818 Address: Yaroslaviv Val, 3301054, Kyiv, Ukraine E-mail: [email protected] in many areas along the contact-line. In parallel to www.nrc.no

2 The hostilities have generated significant to advocate on the need for multiple crossing humanitarian needs among displaced and resident points to NGCA, simplified, fast-track procedures communities alike. In many localities affected by for humanitarian cargo and clearer regulations for hostilities – especially in frontline communities, the movement of humanitarian personnel. basic life-supporting services have been disrupted; some civilians have little access to income, little in NRC established a full presence in NGCA (Luhansk the way of medicine, food, heating or money. city) in July 2015. However, a registration process Additionally, the destruction of water infrastructure was subsequently imposed on all international in some areas poses a threat to the civilian humanitarian actors by the de facto authorities (in population. The economy in Ukraine has suffered Luhansk and Donetsk) and, in late September, from serious economic decline due to the conflict almost all NGOs - including NRC - were informed and ongoing economic reform efforts. Consumer that they were no longer authorised to operate. prices have increased at a faster pace than many Consequently, NRC was unable to implement household incomes, thus negatively affecting planned activities in NGCA of Luhansk oblast purchasing power and access to life’s necessities, during 2015. Following negotiations, at the end of especially for vulnerable groups already heavily 2015 NRC submitted a new request to the de facto impacted by the armed conflict. authorities in Luhansk to conduct humanitarian activities in NGCA. In parallel, in March 2016 NRC Freedom of movement across the contact-line submitted a first request to the de facto authorities remains a major concern, as thousands of civilians in Donetsk NGCA to undertake humanitarian move between GCA and NGCA on a regular basis; it activities there. However, NRC has yet to receive a is estimated (by the UN Refugee Agency) that 46% positive response to these authorisation requests. of inhabitants in eastern Ukraine cross the contact- line every month. Difficulties are linked to the NRC activities in the field destruction of infrastructure, but also because of a strict permit system, which has been put in place to The situation in Ukraine remains volatile and of cross between GCA and NGCA. Indeed, at the few concern to the international community. With the crossing points open, civilians often stand in needs of affected-communities being diverse, NRC queues for hours – or at times days - while awaiting has developed a holistic programme within the document checks; additionally, due to ceasefire core competencies of ICLA, Shelter and Food violations, localised hostilities sometimes force the Security/Livelihoods. This responds to needs both closure of crossing points. These imposed in the conflict and post-conflict areas. Due to the restrictions on movement continue to weaken the unstable situation, new and secondary coping capacities among civilians. displacements can take place; thus, NRC maintains the capacity to rapidly respond to Humanitarian access evolving humanitarian needs. At the same time, NRC is working to mitigate the risk of protracted Humanitarian access into NGCA remains a major displacement and has begun to pursue issue of concern due to the numerous restrictions approaches that offer durable solutions for the of the de facto authorities and of the Ukrainian displaced and host communities; in this regard, government. A “registration” process imposed by NRC has launched projects aimed at meeting early- the de facto authorities for international recovery needs in certain localities. humanitarian actors resulted in the suspension in late 2015 of most international agencies and their Shelter and Non-food assistance departure from Luhansk and Donetsk. As of the The primary components of NRCˈs Shelter present, only a few international agencies have programme include: emergency shelter and relief managed to acquire authorisation from the de assistance (primarily non-food items (NFI)), facto authorities to operate in NGCA. The Ukrainian recovery shelter, transitional shelter for IDPs, government also has complicated procedures for winterization, community infrastructure repairs and allowing humanitarian agencies to operate in household contingency preparation. Shelter/NFI NGCA; the humanitarian community has continued www.nrc.no

3 activities are mainly conducted in communities raising and legal counselling free of charge. Legal along the contact-line in Luhansk oblast (GCA). In aid has been provided to communities across the period of May-August 2016, 609 households Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts through NRC Legal (1,272 individuals) received NRC assistance to Aid Centres (in Severdonetsk, Stanytsia Luhanska repair or reconstruct their homes; NRC activities and Kramatorsk), mobile teams of lawyers, home included: visits to the elderly and to people with disabilities, group information sessions and through a  Provision of building materials for light and telephone hotline. medium repair of damaged houses in 18 towns and villages located along the contact- In July 2016, NRC opened a field office with a Legal line; this benefitted 558 households (1,190 Aid Centre (LAC) in Stanytsia Luhanska, a town individuals). In terms of the renovation of located on the frontline; this town hosts the only infrastructure, 8 schools and 2 kindergartens crossing-point in Luhansk oblast between GCA and in two frontline districts received construction NGCA, which thousands of civilians use each materials, which will improve educational month to travel back and forth across the front- conditions for 1,015 children. line. From the opening of the LAC, NRC lawyers  Reconstruction of 6 houses along the frontline were able to provide legal information to 222 that were totally destroyed by shelling (Core persons through group information sessions, offer House project). Based on an owner driven consultations to 181 individuals and assist with 6 approach, NRC provided construction legal cases; this included civilians crossing at the materials or conditional cash grants to the checkpoint as well as those from conflict-affected households, while the beneficiaries organized communities in the district. In total during May- the reconstruction work themselves. August 2016, across eastern Ukraine NRC  Rehabilitation of 45 heavily damaged houses provided ICLA information services to 6,672 in 11 towns and villages located close to the beneficiaries, legal counselling to 3,044 persons frontline. and legal assistance to 131 individuals; additionally, 85 persons – mainly representatives NRC continued to provide emergency relief through of authorities and civil society – participated in the distribution of non-food items in Luhansk ICLA training sessions. oblast, with a range of vulnerable groups targeted: isolated households along the contact-line, To address legal barriers affecting IDPs, NRC extremely vulnerable individuals, IDPs (particularly coordinates closely with the Civil-Military non-registered ones) and families hosting IDPs. Administration, the Department of Social General household NFIs (like hygiene and bedding Protection, the Department of Justice, Migration kits) were distributed between May and August Service, the Pension Fund and the Custody and among 1,750 individuals in villages along the Guardianship Service; cooperation is also pursued contact-line. Orphanages, boarding schools, with local organizations, international NGOs and maternity hospitals, foster homes, and UN agencies. In cooperation with local authorities, communities hosting orphans from NGCA as well national and international NGOs, NRC held a as IDP families received baby kits (baby food, seminar for government authorities concerning the hygiene items and diapers) and entertainment kits general principles of humanitarian protection and from NRC; in total, 987 persons benefitted from assistance, as well as the IDP legal framework in this assistance. relation to civil documentation and access to social benefits. Additionally, a seminar concerning IDP Information, counselling and legal property rights (alienation and registration of assistance (ICLA) property) was organized for 21 lawyers of territorial bodies of ministries and other central executive NRC’s Information, Counselling and Legal authorities, public enterprises, institutions and Assistance (ICLA) programme aims to help organizations. In Severodonetsk (Luhansk oblast), displaced and conflicted-affected persons to NRC co-organised a seminar for judges of local exercise their rights and overcome legal obstacles courts and of the Appeals Court of Luhansk and through the provision of information, awareness- www.nrc.no

4 Donetsk oblasts (GCA), addressing the protection most relevant HLP issue concerned compensation of human rights of IDPs and of conflict-affected for destroyed/damaged housing. In the frame of persons through the justice system; 60 judges took efforts to bring HLP activities and coordination part in the seminar, including the Non-Judicial closer to eastern Ukraine, sub-regional HLP TWG Rapporteur for Ukraine of the European Court of meetings were held in Severodonetsk and Human Rights, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Kramatorsk to address, in particular, military Human Rights, and representatives of the Council occupation and mine/UXO contamination of private of Europe and the UN Refugee Agency. property, which resulted in developing draft guidance for beneficiaries whose property is A range of problems remain of significant concern subject to military occupation/expropriation. for IDPs and conflict-affected persons: suspension of IDP social benefits and pensions; problematic Food security aspects of IDP registration linked to changes in The ongoing violence and displacement has legislation and in procedures for granting severely affected the agricultural sector, both (restoring) IDP social benefits; control checks of smallholder farmers and major farming IDP places of residence; challenges in inheritance enterprises, in the region considered as the registration procedures; and certain aspects of breadbasket of eastern Ukraine. According to a legislative regulation of the procedure for report by FAO (September 2015), access to food, obtaining/restoration of lost or damaged/ particularly for IDPs and vulnerable households destroyed civil documentation. In order to address along the contact-line, labor market opportunities these issues, NRC organized 6 round tables at the and sustainable income sources remain weak in Legal Aid Centres in Severodonetsk and eastern Ukraine. Kramatorsk. These events were opportunities to discuss the above topics with representatives of NRC launched a food security/livelihoods project in local authorities, national and international NGOs. June 2016, with the goal to improve food and livelihood security for IDPs and conflict-affected NRC published in local newspapers and in online families living along the contact-line in Luhansk media outlets 4 articles with up-to-date legal oblast (GCA). Through this project, NRC aims to information. This included details on the procedure restore agricultural productive capacity and for recovery of education documents for IDPs, the sustainable livelihoods, improve access to most recent amendments to legislation agricultural markets by communities living along concerning IDPs, the procedure to obtain a the contact-line, and strengthen capacity of local parent’s consent in order to travel with a child organizations to support livelihoods and food across the contact line (between GCA-NGCA) and security activities. During the period of June-August the procedure to register a marriage. Additionally, 2016, NRC provided vulnerable families – those in order to strengthen NRC legal information capable to pursue livelihood activities - with activities, NRC issued four important new booklets agricultural assistance, namely: greenhouse repair (in Ukrainian, Russian and English): (1) materials, irrigation pumps and pipes, chicken “Inheritance Proceedings for IDPs;” (2) “Social feed, stock feed and vegetable seeds. Overall, 274 Benefits for Low-Income Families;” (3) “Restoration households from 4 frontline villages received of Lost or Damaged Property Documents” and (4) support from NRC. “Roadmap for IDPs in Donetsk Region”.

As part of its efforts vis-à-vis Housing, Land and Property Rights (HLP), NRC continued to lead the HLP Technical Working Group (TWG) with participation of Protection and Shelter Clustersˈ members (in Kyiv, Severodonetsk and Kramatorsk). In June, a report detailing a survey of HLP issues in Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts was issued; the survey showed that the www.nrc.no

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