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October 2015 • v. 55, n. 5 NewsNet News of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies War, Escalating Vulnerabilities, and Service Delivery in Ukraine Sarah D. Phillips, Indiana U and Jill Owczarzak, Johns Hopkins U Before the war in Ukraine began in mid-April (GCAs).4 The true number of IDPs is likely much higher, 2014, considerable headway was being made in the devel- since centralized registration for IDPs was launched only opment of programs and initiatives to protect the rights in October 2014; some IDPs may not have proper docu- of—and provide social and health services and employ- mentation required to register; unaccompanied children ment opportunities to—Ukraine’s vulnerable populations, cannot register; and IDPs within non-government con- including people with disabilities, people who use drugs, trolled areas have not been counted.5 It is not known how and people living with HIV/AIDS and/or other chronic ill- many people are living in non-government-controlled ar- nesses (tuberculosis, Hepatitis C). As anthropologists in- eas (NGCAs, areas under separatist control) in Donetsk terested in health and society, we have been tracking these and Luhansk oblasts.6 According to the United Nations initiatives in a series of research projects on disability is- High Commissioner for Refugees, people living in these sues since 20061 and HIV prevention since 20122. Now we areas lack access to public services previously provided by find ourselves documenting how the war in Ukraine has central authorities, and the situation is exacerbated by the not only disrupted existing services for already-vulnerable restrictions to the movement of people and goods.7 populations; it has created new forms and new crises of vulnerability.3 According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy, 12.6% of IDPs in Ukraine are children, 4.2% are Approximately 7,000 people have been killed and people with disabilities (PWD), and 59.1% receive some over 17,000 injured in Ukraine during the war. The war sort of social pension. Women and children comprise the has displaced more than 2.3 million people. As of July 31, majority of the IDP population, as men stayed behind to 925,500 persons had sought asylum, residence permits or protect property, to fight in the conflict, or were prevented other forms of legal stay in neighboring countries, mostly from leaving by armed groups.8 International organiza- Russia. By September 7, 1,460,000 internally displaced tions such as the UNHCR, UNICEF, and others are help- persons (IDPs) were registered by the Ministry of Social ing Ukrainian state institutions coordinate relief efforts for Policy across Ukraine in the government-controlled areas war-affected populations in Ukraine. They are joined by a Inside this Issue • October 2015 • v. 55, n.5 War, Escalating Vulnerabilities, and Service Delivery in Ukraine 1 2016 ASEEES Convention Theme and General Rules 18 by Sarah D. Phillips, Indiana U and Jill Owczarzak, Johns Member Spotlight: David Hoffmann 21 Hopkins U Publications 22 2015 ASEEES Prize Winners 6 Institutional Member News 25 On Slavic Review: Report from the Editor 9 In Memoriam 27 by Harriet Murav, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Affiliate News 28 2014-2015 Contributors to ASEEES 13 Personages 30 The American Research Institute of the South Caucasus 14 by Talin Lindsay, ARISC Executive Director October 2015 • NewsNet 1 robust cadre of civic activists and associated non-govern- acute shortages of medicines, personal hygiene products, mental organizations that, since the EuroMaidan protests, safe drinking water, and food, including infant formula have engaged in fundraising and service efforts to assist and baby food. Food security is a serious concern, due to IDPs and supply the Ukrainian army with equipment and shortages and high inflation in the NGCAs.11 The existing provisions. These citizens’ initiatives are locally referred to permit system for crossing the “contact line” from GCA as a “state within a state,”9 a formulation that highlights to NGCA includes no provisions that would allow people the extent to which private citizens are stepping in to fill with disabilities, the elderly, and those with acute health the gaps in the Ukrainian state’s safety and security net. crises and health care needs to quickly leave the conflict At the same time, IDPs are not zone, and the restrictions on always welcomed by host com- freedom of movement impede munities; as often happens, lo- people in NGCAs from access- cal populations may see IDPs ing social entitlements and as competitors for jobs and healthcare.12 The UN Office scarce resources, and blame for the Coordination of Hu- them for bringing social and manitarian Affairs (OCHA) health problems with them. and NGOs report difficulties in carrying out humanitarian These challenges are work due to regulations on the exacerbated by Ukraine’s at- free movement of civilians and tendant economic down-spi- goods imposed by Govern- ral—Ukraine’s currency (the ment authorities. Notary ser- hryvnia, UAH) crashed in vices have been discontinued February 2015, GDP fell by Myrne. Donetsk region. Mother and son both have congenital cerebral in the NGCAs, which impedes 18% during the first quarter of palsy. Their house in the town of Granitne was destroyed during the first shelling, and they now reside in the town of Myrne ("Peaceful"), in some pensioners (including 2015, and inflation topped 60% the Ukrainian-controlled territory, in a makeshift nursing home (the people with disabilities) from in April 2015.10 The Ukrainian building was previously a school) for PWD and the elderly. The nurs- ing home is staffed entirely by volunteers. accessing their social benefits. government was woefully un- Disability rights activists who prepared for the humanitarian left the NGCAs are struggling crisis, and international and to provide aid to people with local organizations are strug- disabilities still living in the gling to cope as well. In this separatist-controlled territo- context of economic decline, ries, either by periodically un- sharpened marginalization of dertaking risky travel there, or vulnerable groups, and an IDP by sending aid through couri- crisis, already over-burdened ers. health and social service agen- cies—many of them non-gov- It is unknown how many ernmental organizations with people with disabilities (PWD) very limited resources—must are still living in the NGCAs. rapidly adapt to serve new For instance, although the pre- populations and provide new war population of PWD in Lu- services. Here we highlight a hansk oblast was estimated at Opytne. Donetsk region. Opytne is in the GCA, just a few miles from the few cases that illustrate some destroyed Donetsk airport. This woman, like many of her neighbors, is liv- 250,000, as of mid-July only ing in a basement. When there is no shelling, her neighbors help her to the of the vulnerability crises pro- front door of the building for a moment of fresh air and sunlight. 24,000 PWD from Luhansk duced or exacerbated by the oblast were registered as IDPs war in Ukraine. living in GCAs. It is not known how many PWD have requested asylum or permanent Acute vulnerabilities in non-government-controlled residence in neighboring countries, but disability rights areas activists estimate that at least 22,000 PWD are still living People living in NGCAs—including those with in the city of Luhansk, with thousands more throughout disabilities who may have chronic medical conditions that the NGCAs. require medicines, therapy, and other special care—face October 2015 • NewsNet 2 IDPs with disabilities—doubly vulnerable grounds” for the disabled and elderly by family members unable or unwilling to care for them.13 Food insecurity Although there are no reliable statistics available, is also a mounting problem for PWD it is estimated that of the approxi- and other vulnerable populations mately 1.4 million IDPs registered in displaced by the war.14 the GCAs, almost 60,000 are PWD. Although it is widely recognized Case management overload among those involved in humanitar- ian efforts that IDP populations are Since 2012 we have worked close- comprised of many PWD and elderly ly with eight HIV service agencies in persons, very few targeted programs eight Ukrainian cities that use harm to assist PWD and the elderly have reduction strategies to reduce HIV been developed. Although in recent risk and improve health and social years significant strides had been outcomes for at-risk populations, made in accessibility and social inte- especially people who use drugs gration of PWD, the post-Soviet so- (PWUD) and commercial sex work- cial safety net for those with disabili- ers (CSWs). In the context of the IDP ties was always severely inadequate. crisis these agencies are compelled The situation has only gotten worse to absorb new target groups, pro- with the influx of IDPs with special vide new services, and adapt existing needs. According to a prominent services to the needs of IDPs. In Pol- disability rights activist and PWD tava, for example, the agency Light from Luhansk, herself an IDP, “the of Hope (Svitlo Nadiyi) has opened state budget doesn’t even cover the their small shelter to people they local PWD, not to mention the IDPs call “transit refugees” (temporarily with special needs now.” homeless, most of them IDPs). They identify “transit refugees” as a new PWD receive an average target group for their services, as well monthly disability pension of 1,200 as the elderly and the chronically ill. UAH ($60), and IDP PWD are enti- Light of Hope is adapting its already- tled to additional assistance of 1,000 existing model of case management UAH ($50). Unemployment rates are for PWUD to evaluate the needs of extremely high for IDPs, and IDP and deliver services to new client PWD find it nearly impossible to get groups.