General Coordination Meeting – Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk Oblast) 28 May 2015

Discussion Action Points/Decisions 1. Information about UN OCHA activities  OCHA to follow up UAM receiving IDP certificates together with UNICEF and UNHCR UN OCHA together with humanitarian partners is in the process of finalization Contingency Planning for emergency response. Also the work on the new Law on humanitarian assistance is underway; this should be finalized by the end of June. The steps taken on the issue of unaccompanied minors (UAM) related to receiving IDP status were noted. The Governor’s office has been informed about the problem but the issue can’t be address at the Oblast level. Appropriate information has been passed to the Ministry of Social Policy and Ministry of Education (via Child Protection sub-cluster). UNICEF also met with the State Ombudsperson for Children’s rights for recommendations to amend appropriate Laws and Regulations.

UN OCHA encouraged humanitarian agencies to update their regional activities (via 3W/4W forms) and underlined that more acute information has to be delivered to donors including local needs and gaps.

2. Update by LOCMA representative of the current IDP situation  Partners to keep informing LOMCA and Coordinating Centre about movements in the area of contact line. The Deputy Governor provided update about the current information under the following headings:  Draw the attention of WASH cluster partners to the needs in the Oblast. th Security: On the 27 of May 27 there was a direct hit on the Schastya power station causing electricity  UNHCR to consider possibility of supporting “social cuts in the northern parts of the oblast. It was noted that the number of shelling has increased recently houses for IDPs” Project. OCHA to refer to UNDP the within Stanytsa Luhanska, Schastya and Popasna Raion (along the conflict line) as main targets. It was need for support on this issue. also underlined that the non-state actors use all types of weapons. A direct hit on a private home took  WHO to consider the possibility to cover the needs in the place near Stanytsa-Luhanska in the village Artyoma, there were no victims reported. There are numerous hospitals. villages left without water supply because the main pipeline was damaged (ICRC and NRC were informed). The Governor made a decision that whoever damages a pipeline will be responsible to fix it. The 9-months nonpayment from NGCAs is another reason for involvement of maintenance teams from the other side of the line of contact into renovation of the infrastructure. This will require a mutual exchange of utility workers across the line of contact. The Deputy Governor requested for monitoring of this process. OSCE SMM explained that though it can’t take any commitments the observers are ready to ensure monitoring in the places of repairs.

The situation in the rest of the Oblast is stable. The international organizations are active in the reconstruction of damaged houses along the contact line (Novoaydar, Popasna and Stanytsa-Luhanska Raions). Village and Raion councils are expressing their appreciation for the provided support.

Crossing points. There is only one approved humanitarian corridor (Zolote-Pervomaysk) and only

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humanitarian vehicles are allowed to cross it. The areas around Stanytsa-Luhanske and Tryokhizbenka have been banned for any crossing by the recent Resolution of the Governor due to security reasons. Still the Oblast Administration will continue to assist the aid agencies to expedite their paperwork. Any organization delivering humanitarian aid has the contact numbers to report about difficulties encountered at the checkpoints and in delivering humanitarian aid.

Food Security. ICRC delivered over 3,000 food packages in Stanytsa-Luhanska Raion. The Austrian Red Cross covers Novoaydar Raion with the same type of assistance. PIN delivered food vouchers in Popasna Raion and provided financial support to specific category of IDPs. The Deputy Governor stressed that the most of assistance is along the conflict line, but the partners should also focus on northern areas located away from the contact line, because these regions still have an increasing number of IDP arrival and they need food.

Healthcare. There is a list of hospitals with the high needs of emergency surgical kits as well as with the needs for broad-spectrum antibiotics. There is a short supply of specialized medicines (AIDS/HIV) and the government’s inventory is stocked until end of June but the issue is being addressed at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The support from humanitarian actors in arranging mobile clinics (WHO and MSF) is highly appreciated by healthcare authorities. The initiative will be supported with 2 additional mobile teams funded by the Oblast Administration, including mobile X-ray equipment. The situation with TB is being controlled in GCAs but there is no information from NGCAs. The LOMCA asks for assistance from humanitarian actors operating in NGCAs to share information about TB situation there as it is well understood that any TB outbreaks in NGCAs will spread to GCAs sooner or later. The stock of insulin is sufficient for 2 months; tenders are announced and managed at the national level. Special attention was paid to the need of mental health support. Many people with fragile mind have been affected by the situation and require help; the assessment of the needs is requested. The state has funds to support operating psycho-neurological services. In Popasna the Psych-Neurological Clinic is under reconstruction. Patients have been evacuated and will return when repairs are completed.

WASH: The Deputy Governor specially emphasized the need for hygiene kits for newborns. Newborns need more than just diapers but complete natal kits which the Oblast Administration is trying to arrange. Large numbers of mothers and newborns have crossed over from NGCAs and there are already 448 registered births from IDP mothers. Big need for the diapers for adults. According to the Deputy Governor in case parents want to get Ukrainian birth certificate, but they reside in NGCA, mother with her newborn does not need to come to GCA. The father of the child or its grandparents could do this. They only need to bring the “Spravka” (certificate) from the hospital where the child was born. Then the authorities in GCA will provide normal birth certificate.

The issue of an unaccompanied minor is the main concern. The Oblast Administration has proposed a system to legally recognize temporary custodianship based on a letter from children’s natural parents declaring that they are unable to fulfil their parental rights due to conditions (family separation, hardship etc) caused by the conflict. In this case immediate family members can become legal representatives of children. Still this approach won’t cover the children who moved to GCA with the educational institution.

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The Deputy Governor addressed UNHCR for the assistance in developing social houses for permanent accommodation IDPs vs collective centers. There are several buildings to be considered for this conversion in Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne. The Oblast Administration has already received over 200 applications from IDPs ready to move to this type of houses.

3. Security issues  OCHA to undertake the mission coordinating role in case of humanitarian organizations’ joint visits close The issue of security when crossing the contact line and operating in the areas along the conflict line was to the conflict line. raised by the NRC (80% of activity of the organization is along the contact line). NRC team got under  Partners to keep informing authorities and OCHA cross fire when they were crossing the Pervomaysk (NGCA) to GCAs via checkpoint in Zolote. Though about plans for better coordination and further the organization underlines that the NRC wasn’t the target of shelling but rather appeared “in wrong place support. at the wrong time”. UNHCR also had to stop NFI distribution in Zolote 3 after shelling started. The  OCHA to propose facilitated and fast track procedures proposal from the partners is to arrange joint missions to areas with preliminary agreement about “silence” to the LOMCA for obtaining permits for the with both parties of the conflict. This raises a number of issues including preparation of documents for humanitarian cargoes. humanitarian cargo and for movement of humanitarian vehicles, seeking agreement with the parties of the conflict and monitoring observance of the “silence”. It was pointed out by NRC that planning is a challenge as sometimes they don’t know how long they can wait for the permit from the Coordination Center (CC) though it was underlined that there are no delays in receiving letters of support from LOCMA. The Deputy Governor stressed that LOCMA can’t influence decisions of the CC. Getting joint original letter signed by both LOCMA and the CC that is accepted by all checkpoint may be problematic due to lines of communication. It was suggested to the humanitarian actors to seek for “silence” through its own contacts in NGCA. OSCE SMM proposed to act as an observer in case if such agreements are achieved.

NRC also requested for step-by-step description of procedure for obtaining permits for the humanitarian cargoes.

4. Education  DRC/DDG to be contacted by the partners especially operating close to contact line for MER training. DRC/DDG starts “train the trainers” 3 day workshops the next week that will be carried out in cooperation with the Educational Department. The venue for the training is school #8 in Sievierodonetsk for training of 20 selected trainers for Luhansk Oblast. Then it is planned to train another group of 20 trainers for Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast and finally 20 trainers for Donetsk Oblast. This pool of 60 trainers will be able to disseminate MER training further among schoolchildren, their parents and local communities. Summer camps were selected as the best place for training in summer to cover the maximum number of children during out-of-school period. DRC/DDG has provided MER training for PIN. There are plans for peer training and SES will be the first authority for this type of training. “Unofficial” training is proposed for all humanitarian actors especially for those operating at the contact line. DRC/DDG to be contact for periods available for the training.

5. Emergency Shelter/NFI

Most of the partners’ activities are concentrated in GCAs due to logistic and security reasons. UNHCR has United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org

distributed NFI packages in Zolote 3. On GCA, NRC shelter activities are now concentrated in Popasna Raion, Popasna town, Zolote 1-5, Novotoshkivka, Girske, with the addition of neighboring town of Tryokhizbenka in Novoaydar raion. NFI distribution of general household items and hygiene kits covers 3 Raions (Popasna, Novoaydar and Stanytsa-Luhanska).

In NGCA, NRC has delivered 15 tons of humanitarian aid since the beginning of May with shelter material and NFIs in the town of Pervomaisk, in Popasna Raion, for approx. 200 households (600 pax). It was the first delivery of many to come in other villages and towns of Popasna Raion in NGCA.

The Regional Red Cross distributed vouchers for construction materials (supported by the Austrian Red Cross). Its Chairman expressed willingness and desire to cooperate with more partners.

6. Food Security  WFP to invite partners for the first Coordination Meeting for food and security for GCA of Luhansk and WFP has established field sub-office in Sievierodonetsk (with the head field office in Kramatorsk) to cover Donetsk Oblast. Luhansk Oblast. For the moment WFP is focused on assessment of the situation. Statistical processing of the information to identify the needs in food parcels and vouchers is conducted. WFP has limited number of partners in the Oblast for the moment (Mercy Corps and ADRA only) and looking for other organizations to involve into food security projects in the region. It is planned to launch cash voucher project for GCAs where there are operating supermarket chains and food packages distribution for NGCAs. It was mentioned though that GCAs of Luhansk Oblast are mainly rural areas and they are usually not covered by the chain supermarkets. This issue requires additional attention.

WFP will arrange the first Coordination Meeting on food security for Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast in Kramatorsk early June, all interested partners are invited. Partners proposed to consider an option for skype conference for those who can’t attend the meeting because travelling is required.

7. Health care services  WHO in cooperation with LOMCA to check if tuberculin was delivered to all districts. WHO mobile medical teams continue providing the primary medical care services to the remote villages in  WHO will elaborate the proposal for cash vouchers for the north of the Oblast (Starobilsk, Novoaydar and Kremensk Raions). One team has been additionally medications and medical services with the partners at equipped by the ultrasound scan but the necessary medication hasn’t been received yet due to health cluster meetings bureaucratic obstacles at national level. The team doesn’t go to the contact line, as this would require  Partners to share contact information with WHO to different training for the team and different equipment of the ambulance to meet safety requirements. For include into information leaflet. the moment the areas along the contact line are visited by MSF mobile clinics.  WHO to invite new partners to Health Cluster Meeting. Monitoring of TB system was conducted by WHO. The only TB dispensary in Lysychansk has all necessary drugs but the institution requires NFI (bed linen) and diagnostic equipment. It is reported by Oblast Healthcare Department that tuberculin was delivered to all towns and districts. Nevertheless, WHO representative mentioned that Lysyschansk has not received it until now.

WHO plans to publish an information leaflet for IDPs about medical services available in the area of their temporary residence. It will also include the contact information of other organizations that IDPs can United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org

address to. WHO representative also informed about the proposal for cash vouchers for medications and medical services that has been discussed at the national level. The idea of vouchers for medications seems easy to implement through the local pharmacy chain but the implementation of vouchers for medical services needs further elaboration as it requires development of pricing system and identifying mechanism for exchanging voucher into services.

The number of humanitarian actors working in mental health field has increased and includes MSF, ACF, La-Starada and HelpAge International. It was noted by ACF that mental health needs are known and are similar on both sides of the conflict line and ACF plans to start its MH program in the GCA in the coming weeks.

HelpAge International starts activities aimed at providing assistance to elderly people. These activities include non-medical care services, psychological support and NFI/hygiene kits distribution. The organization will operate both in GCAs (Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Rubizhne, Kreminskyy and Melovskyy Raions) and NGCAs (Luhansk, Alchevsk, Krasnyy Lutch, Stakhaniv).

MSF started the mobile clinic project in the areas along the conflict line (Popasna, Novoaydar and Stanytsa-Luhanska Raions). The medical team provides examination of IDPs and local population and leaves the stock of drugs for treatment for 2-3 weeks that is sufficient till the next visit takes place. 100 emergency surgery kits were delivered to the hospitals in Schastya and Stanytsa-Luhanska (50 kits per settlement).

The Regional Red Cross has certified first aid instructors. The appropriate training is proposed for the staff of the humanitarian organizations. ICRC already had this training; negotiations about the training are held with NRC.

The manager of the project Charity Organization “Luhansk Oblast Department of All-Ukrainian Network of People living with HIV” drew attention to the needs of people with HIV/AIDS. It was stressed that the previous system of HIV prevention among risky categories (prisoners, drug addicts, women making love on commercial basis) is destroyed. Laboratory test equipment is left in Luhansk (NGCA). All tests after screening have to be delivered to Kharkiv for final confirmation of diagnosis. The issue of drugs for HIV is addressed under the Global Fund to Fight with AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This category of people has needs in food and other humanitarian assistance especially in NGCAs. It was also pointed out that former prisoners are not able to come from NGCAs to GCAs after they released as they don’t have passports.

Psychological assistance and legal counselling are provided by La-Strada Ukraine within the project “Humanitarian Assistance to IDPs and citizens affected by the conflict in the Eastern Ukraine”. There are 3 trainers in Luhansk Oblast who will deliver psychological and social adaptation training for children and parents. Another project is aimed at actions against trafficking.

It was pointed that the number of aggressive people increased.

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8. Protection  UNHCR to follow up on situation with crossing the RF- Ukraine border and consequence of illegal crossing. It was stressed by R2P that it is not possible to receive accurate statistics of unaccompanied minors  R2P to monitor situation related to access of the school actually residing in GCAs and their IDP status. It was suggested obtaining this information directly from graduates to GCAs for participation in EIT. schools but apparently it was already late as the academic year is over. The representative of Education Department noted that it will be possible to have updated information in August-September after children are enrolled in schools. This information will help to evaluate the scope of the problem of UAM registration as IDPs.

R2P monitors reported about different procedures applied in individual district Departments of Social Protection during the process of re-registration of IDPs for receiving the social benefits (new certificate vs. stamp confirming extension of the certificate). The Deputy Governor reacted that the procedure was explained to all heads of departments and though there are some gaps in the regulations that require decisions at the national level the same procedure has to be applied within the oblast.

R2P noted that people with the Ukrainian documents (birth and marriage certificates etc.) that were issued by the de facto authorities are issued on the forms that were left there by Ukrainian authorities. They look exactly the same as if Ukrainian authorities issued them, but their serial numbers are excluded from the state register. The Deputy Governor started a wide public campaign via Mass Media to explain to the population that no valid Ukrainian documents are issued in NGCAs. Special care has to be given to the birth certificates issued in exchange to certificate from the hospital confirming the fact of birth. No duplicates are accepted in GCAs, the parents have to receive the birth certificate in GCAs in order to have valid Ukrainian document.

UNHCR emphasized the consequences of the Governor’s Resolution banning any crossing of the contact line outside the official checkpoint in Zolote. Even this checkpoint is often closed due to security reasons and people trying to cross via side roads are putting their lives under threat because of the mined areas around checkpoints. This also makes more people travel from NGCAs to GCAs via the Russian Federation that again raises the issue of administrative protocols for illegal crossing of the state border. The Deputy Governor found the proposal to make temporary amendments to the law by excluding people with Luhansk and Donetsk registration from responsibilities for violating the law not viable and advised refusing from direct payments to border guards on the border crossing points and wait for the court decision.

Despite of preliminary agreement, many school graduates were not allowed to get to GCAs and participate in the External Independent Testing (EIT).

NRC started ICLA project. ICLA will open a Drop-In Centre in Severodonetsk to provide information and legal counselling to IDPs and other persons of concern. ICLA will also operate a hotline to provide information services via telephone and to arrange follow-up home visits or mobile counselling as necessary throughout GCA of Luhansk oblast.

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After the prohibition issued by the LOMCA Governor more people are trying to get to the GCA of Luhansk Oblast through the Russian Federation. This is not the easiest way as people need to wait on border for hours. The most of them are crossing the border illegally and this is why the border guards written off the protocols. Some people that were given fines because of the lack of understanding of the rule of law directly pay these fines to the border guards. Others, in order to avoid receipt of protocols bribe the guards at the border. Another serious issue is that while waiting in the queue to cross the border some of the people feel sick and some of them faint. By the end of April there was an incident when the ambulance did not arrive on time and a person died at the border.

9. Other issues  OCHA to arrange presentation of the database for interested partners on the 29th of May in OCHA office. Issue related to common database: it was proposed to consider the opportunity of using an existing  Partners to provide OCHA contacts for IDPs to address database developed by NGO Khorse. Presentation on the database can be made to the interested depending on their needs partners. 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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