General Coordination Meeting – ( Oblast) 27 August 2015

Discussion Action Points/Decisions 1. Update of the current humanitarian situation in Oblast from LOMCA and SES  Luhansk MCA will have joint visit with UNDP/CBA project to summer camp “Mriya” to assess opportunities for its The number of IDPs keeps growing and as of 21.08.2015 there were 213,758 officially registered IDPs in expansion for IDP center. Luhanska Oblast. The representative of the oblast SES department pointed out that despite of relative ceasefire one may expect the new wave of IDPs fleeing from the areas along the contact line as many houses are damaged and for the moment people live in summer houses or in damaged houses but it won’t be possible when autumn comes. ThisIt will make the issue of accommodation for IDPs even more acute.

On its side SES has arranged two transition points in Sievierodonetsk that starting from the 1st of October can accommodate up to 700-720 people. The transition centers were equipped with the support provided by humanitarian organizations. NRC continues providing construction materials for renovation of one of the centers. It was stressed by SES representative that Memoranda of Cooperation will be signed with all humanitarian organizations supporting SES that will allow the parties to take certain responsibilities and have certain rights.

Still SES is concerned that for the moment these transition centers have no legal status and regulations on who can stay in the centers, how long etc. that hampers many administrative issues.

The Deputy Head of LOMCA underlined importance of the support from the international community as it is understood that the state is not able to cover all IDP needs for the moment. She stressed that security situation in the areas along the contact line in the oblast remains tense with the increase of shelling with heavy arms (Stanytsya Luhanska, Troytske, Krymske). It leads to damages of houses and infrastructure.

Accommodation for IDPs remains the priority problem in the oblast, in particular in the light of coming winter. No suitable solutions of temporary accommodation such as collective centers, IDP centers or social houses were found during summer period. Coordinator of UNDP/CBA project proposed to consider opportunities for expanding facilities of the summer camp “Mriya” in to be used as collective center where one building is already can accommodate 80 people (according to the project estimations the camp could host up to 240 people).

The Deputy Head of LOMCA informed that most of schools in and Stanytsya Luhanska have been repaired and they will be able to accept children on the 1st of September. Though it was stressed that the academic year will start only if security situation allows attending the schools otherwise distance learning will be used.

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions

The project of gas pipeline construction in Tryokhizbenka is suspended. Some steps are taken to find decisions on providing alternative power supply line to the northern part of the oblast to avoid dependence on Heat Power Station in Shchastya that is often subject to shelling. Another backup activity is to purchase powerful generators by the Red Cross that will be transferred to SES and be used in emergency situations to ensure operation of social objects.

Logistic center is being arranged close to the contact line. Some work needs to be done so the facility is able to accommodate shops and chemists. There are some issues with financing from the oblast budget due to transition period caused by restructuring of the State Administration into the Military Civil Administration.

2. Emergency Shelter/NFI  R2P will prepare request to Shelter Sub-Cluster to get a support for small repairs and solid fuel supply for houses UNHCR provided 300 blankets and 600 sets of bed linen in response to the request from Luhansk that can be used for IDP accommodation. National University displaced from Luhansk to .

NRC continues construction material distribution in the areas along the contact line for light and medium repair of damaged houses. 782 households (1’900 pax) received aid to date. Emergency shelter provision is now mainly focused on NGCA where the response has been slower due to access/security issues. The fuel need assessment in the settlements along the contact line is completed and will be used as the basis for winterization program. NFI distributions continue across all NRC areas of operation, with a range of vulnerable categories targeted: isolated communities, EVI, IDPS (particularly non-registered), and host families.

R2P shared information that local administrations in the northern rural parts of the oblast can allocate houses for IDPs but in some cases these houses need repair (construction materials) or solid fuel for heating in winter. In such situations support from humanitarian organization could be valuable. R2P was advised to prepare request for Shelter Sub-Cluster to seek for support.

NRC raised the issue of access to information about vacant houses and apartments in the communal ownership. It was proposed to work with the local authorities to form the lists of vacant accommodations that can be used for IDPs and this information must be open for public. The Deputy Head of LOMCA explained that there is queue of the residents of the communities for this type of accommodation and it can lead to the conflict locally but still the idea needs further development and inventory should be done as a first step.

3. Education

UNICEF starts renovation of two schools ( and ) in September. The delivery of stationary kits (one kit per 10 pupils proportionally to the number of children in school) continues. The

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions school kit is for class activities only. UNICEF will also deliver LEGO sets to a number of schools and kindergartens.

Due to unclear situation in NGCAs where initially the project was planned for implementation Terre des Hommes considers opportunities for moving activities to GCAs. The meeting with the Department of Education was held to identify the most appropriate (along the contact line or the areas where IDPs reside). One of the participants of the meeting also proposed to look at the opportunity of support to the Children Activity Centre. Another idea proposed is arrangement of game rooms in IDP centers.

4. Food security

WFP office in covers operations in the . Its two main implementing partners (IP) in Luhanska Oblast are covering three programs. Mercy Corps distributed food parcels in Novoaydarskyy, Popasnyanskyy and Stanychno-Luhanskyy raions. 11,000 beneficiaries will receive cash support (Mercy Corps) and 5,000 beneficiaries have already received food vouchers (ADRA) with 9,000 more beneficiaries planned to cover in October.

Together with the partners WFP is reviewing its approach to assistance in GCAs along the contact line where the population has no access to shops or cash and distribution of food parcels is more practical. The need for better coordination mechanism to avoid duplication based on geographical coverage and different categories of beneficiaries was emphasized. The discussions of the expansion of the categories of beneficiaries for support continue.

Starting from June 2015 160,000 people received aid under WFP programs; there are plans to provide assistance to another 380,000 people.

WFP plans to extend its activity to Kharkivska, Zaporizhska and Dnepropetrivska oblasts as 1/3 of all IDPs live in these oblasts and about 100,000 people need food assistance because they don’t have stable income.

WFP representative pointed out that one of the problems they face in the activity is absence of reliable  OCHA to send request to highlighting needs in and serious local partners. There is a need for capacity building of local NGOs to make them prepared to capacity building and project development trainings for work with the international organizations. local NGOs.

UN FAO completed distribution of chickens and fodder in Popasnyanskyy (in the village along the contact line, 350 households received 20 chickens and 200 kg of fodder per household). The distribution of fodder for cattle continues. There are plans to expend activities to remote raions of the oblast already this autumn. Main activity of the organization is focused on support to cattle breeding as it helps to improve the ration of people.

UN FAO noted that during travels and survey they saw many abandoned houses in rural communities that

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions potentially can be used by IDPs, but people are not motivated moving there because of the absence of job in the adjacent areas. UN FAO plans to support small farming development among IDP in such communities that will attract them to live in such places.

ACF made agreement with one of the supermarkets in Sievierodonetsk and will launch a food voucher program that will cover 600 beneficiaries.

5. Health care services  OCHA will share the request of the Head of healthcare unit of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine in Luhanska Two WHO mobile medical teams started operation since August 25 and they will cover Popasnyanskyy oblast with appropriate partners. and Stanichno-Luhanskyy raions.

Medicins du Monde launched the project in Svativskyy raion. In the course of survey there were identified the communities with the large number of IDPs and lack of medical staff. These communities will be served by MDM mobile medical team consisting of the doctor, the nurse and the psychologist. The team will also distribute the medications necessary for treatment. MDM also supplies medication to the hospitals in Popasna, Lysychansk, Novoaydar and Stanytsya Luhanska. Another activity will include psychological training for medical staff.

The Head of healthcare unit of the Department of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine in Luhanska Oblast requested assistance for the unit. It is the only pre-detention center in GCAs (in Starobilsk) and it faces the problems in supplying the institution with the most needed things for the treatment of detained (consumables, drugs and equipment for medical isolation ward).

ACF provided mental health training to 250 people who communicate with IDPs in their daily work (doctors, nurses and staff of social protection departments). ACF also provides psycho-social counselling to IDPs in NRC Legal Aid Centre (on Wednesdays).

Breastfeeding education is supported by MDM and ACF.

300,000 USD were allocated under UNDP/CBA for purchase of medical equipment for hospitals and these funds will be allocated on competitive bases through NGOs.

6. Livelihood/ Early Recovery

Under UNDP Project on Rapid Response to Social and Economic Issues of IDPs in Ukraine three applications for jobs creation are financed (non-commercial enterprises). It was noted that the enterprises encountered the problem in hiring IDP for new jobs as in many cases IDPs prefer to receive unemployment benefit rather than work for uncompetitive salary. Another initiative of the project is aimed at small and medium enterprises (SME) development though business training and allocation of grants for business development (up to 10,000 USD). People who receive grants for business development will also

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions have access to business legal counselling that will be embedded within one more project activity.

Twenty-four people from social protection departments participated in UNDP training on “Prevention and overcoming of burnout during provision of social and psychological assistance to IDPs”.

UNDP/CBA implements social infrastructure rehabilitation projects in 20 villages (increase of energy efficiency of schools and kindergartens). The project also supports 15 apartment building co-owners associations with winterization and repair of internal networks. Winterization of IDP center in summer camp “Mriya” will be completed soon. The project cooperates with the local NGOs that receive also support in capacity building through 4 training programs.

Eighteen Agreements on Cooperation were prepared and sent to partners under UNDP Restoration of Governance and Reconciliation in Crisis Affected Communities of Ukraine Project.

IOM opened office in Kramatorsk for coordination of activities in Luhanska and Donetska oblasts three months ago. IOM has projects aimed at the development of IDP and local population self-employment opportunities and at support to local communities (integration of IDPs into the hosting communities). More information about activities will be provided at the next meeting.

7. Protection

UNHCR supports implementation of three projects:  Community Center in Kreminna. The project as designed envisions the repair of a Community Centre, where displaced persons may access assistance organized by Government and partners, and where community members and displaced persons may interact.  Raion Hospital: Given the local importance of the District Hospital for several raions affected by the conflict and IDP arrivals, and its remoteness from regional services in Severodonetsk (which are not fully functioning yet), the concept behind the project is to enhance the capacity of medical services where IDPs are concentrated and where front line communities seek medical attention.  Peaceful coexistence and Protection through Capacity Building in GCA of Luhansk region communities: 4 two-day trainings with 100 URC staff/volunteers (each training to be located in 1 of 4 locations accessible to 25 staff/volunteers in local and neighboring communities), and support with IT capacity.

Proposals for improvement of the housing subsidy procedure were sent to Kiev.

NRC plans to start information campaign to raise population awareness about the legal issues as many people don’t understand or have no reliable information about certain procedures (including application for housing subsidy).

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions

The issue of unaccompanied minors’ (UAMs) registration as an IDP is still pending and decision of the  UNHCR, NRC and R2P will follow up the issue of UAMs. Ministry of Social Policy is expected to clarify situation.

For the moment children born in NGCAs can be registered in GCAs only by the court decision. NRC has information about 3 court decisions concerning the registration of children but none of them was implemented. Analysis of these decisions showed that technically Registration Office can’t proceed with registration because of the gap in the legislation. NRC invited all interested partners to discuss this and other issues at the meeting on the 9th of September and called for proposals for addressing this situation.

The issue of compensation for destroyed and damaged houses was raised. It was pointed out that for the moment there is no special procedure for people to apply for compensation. Most of people are not aware that special evaluation of damages has to be made and the act confirming the damages must be issued by appropriate body. There are no regulations prescribing the methodology for evaluation of the losses. Actions at the national level are needed.

UNFPA GBV Monitoring Officer described situation with GBV as very complicated with the lack of registration, coordination and response mechanisms. It was underlined that GBV cases are not registered and information is very scarce. The Deputy Head of LOMCA advised cooperating with the Centers of social support to families and youth as these centers work with difficult families and may report GBV cases.

R2P announced the quick response mechanism to individual cases (up to 150 USD) when the person is in the situation “causing threat to life or health” and asked the partners to redirect such cases to the organization.

R2P referred to many reported cases of the young people stopped and interrogated by the military. It was noted that information actions to explain the rights and behavior in such cases are needed.

8. WASH

Emergency needs are covered by Vodocanal and SES. The main problems in water supply are caused by old worn equipment and networks. As humanitarian actors mentioned, those issues are outside emergency response actions.

Luhansk Region Sustainable Development Agency will implement the project “Improvement of access to water, sanitation and hygiene in conflict affected areas of Luhanska oblast” (supported by UNICEF) that includes distribution of hygiene kits, water tanks, water delivery in case of emergency situations, supply of three generators and fuel to ensure water supply in affected areas and installation of tanks (45 pieces 1,5 m3 each) for drinking water storage. ACF transferred power pumps with supporting equipment to SES. Soft water tanks are being

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Discussion Action Points/Decisions manufactured and will be transferred to SES as well. There are plans to distribute tab-stand kits and to purchase plastic tanks. The hygiene voucher programme is about to start.

9. Other issues

The partners agreed that it is necessary to prepare brief information leaflets for the local authorities to provide description of the humanitarian actors and their mandates as in many cases people in local authorities have vague understanding of the humanitarian organizations and their role. 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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