Situation Report Kyiv, July 10, 2015

Summary Highlights

 5,000,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance  Access to and from the non-government controlled areas remains a critical issue, both for individuals and humanitarian supplies  International Medical Corps and Hippocrates Greek Medical Foundation have provided 14,216 health consultations in and surrounding rural areas

Map of displacement in Ukraine and surrounding areas (OCHA 2 July 2015)

Background and Situation

With approximately 5,000,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance and 1,400,000 individuals displaced, the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate.1 Displacement numbers are believed to be higher than registered, and women have been reportedly reluctant to officially register as displaced, out of fear that their husbands and sons will be drafted. Of the 5,000,000 individuals affected by the conflict, approximately 3,600,000 are residing in the non-

1Ukraine: Humanitarian Snapshot. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 02 July 2015.

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Situation Report Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2015

government controlled areas (NGCAs), including the People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).2

Health services continue to deteriorate with an ongoing lack of medicines, medical supplies and medical staff through the affected area. The lack of medical care has been observed to most severe in the NGAs, coupled by limited access to the area. Within the government-controlled areas (GCAs), International Medical Corps has observed a high number of patients with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes as well as a high number of elderly individuals in need of medical assistance.

Moreover, as a result of the continued conflict, there is an increasing need for the provision of psychosocial support to those who have been affected. Rapid assessments undertaken by International Medical Corps from May to June 2015 illustrate that elderly individuals, men, and children are at high psychological risk. Many children who have first-hand experience of the conflict have been found to be emotionally distressed, and children who have been displaced are often having difficulties acquiring connections in their new environment. Men have been generally overlooked by psychosocial interventions and many are expressing psychological distress by increased use of alcohol. Previous public health initiatives to address alcohol abuse that were successfully implemented by authorities have also stopped. Elderly people isolated from their family are increasingly vulnerable as they are also having difficulty accessing social services and satisfying their basic needs. Overall, there is limited knowledge, understanding, and focus upon specialized mental health services.

Access

Access is a critical issue in the provision of humanitarian support. Transportation to and from the GCAs and NGCAs continues to be restricted with the enforcement of the permit system.

Contact Line There are thousands of people residing along the contact line in the “buffer zone”, where neither the Ukrainian state nor DPR/LPR have full jurisdiction. Few stores are working, banking services are not available, medical services are not accessible, and there are often no pharmacies. Supply chains are broken and goods are not being delivered. In order to receive pensions from the Ukrainian government authorities, retired residents must travel to nearby cities in the government-controlled areas.

Accessing the buffer zone with humanitarian support has become increasingly difficult due to the checkpoint restrictions and insecurity, with parts of the area facing a very high risk of unexploded ordnance, mines, and mortar shelling. Mine maps are non-existent and coordinated demining efforts are not known to be taking place.

2 Global Emergency Overview Snapshot 17-23 June 2015. Assessment Capacity Project. June 2015

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Situation Report Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2015

NGCAs Continuous disruption of access to NGCAs with humanitarian supplies, as well as the restricted access ability of people to enter and exit the conflict zone has created significant shortages in pharmaceutical supplies, food and basic supplies. Commodities which are available in the NGCAs have significantly increased in price, while social benefits have been cut, job opportunities are scare and livelihoods have been severely affected. Access to health, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection are among the most urgent needs.

International organizations providing humanitarian assistance to the NGCAs have reported the limited ability to deliver humanitarian supplies through checkpoints due to intensification of fighting and restrictions.

Buildings in the center of Mariupol, south of

Programming

Protection Gender-based violence (GBV), child protection and psychosocial needs remain among the critical humanitarian concerns. International Medical Corps is working with three local partners International Women’s Rights Centre La Strada-Ukraine (La Strada), Most Center for Social Development Donetsk Oblast Charitable Foundation (Most) and Mariupol Youth Union (MYU), to implement its child protection, gender-based violence, and psychosocial support program in both the government and non-government controlled areas in Donetsk, as well as in the Kharkiv region.

International Medical Corps has provided training to partners on Gender-Based Violence Guiding Principles, Child Protection Principles and Psychological First Aid to build upon their current capacity,

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Situation Report Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2015

as partners are now providing protection assistance to those affected by the conflict, reaching nearly 10,000 individuals.

Local partner, La Strada, has held 37 trainings reaching 1,174 teachers in Kharkiv, Mariupol and surrounding areas. Trainings have focused on child protection and GBV prevention and education. 2,461 parents have participated in 62 events, including lectures, round tables, and seminars focusing on child protection and GBV, and 2,753 children have participated in 99 events, such as specialized classes and games. Participants of the events have received information, education, and communication materials with information on how to identify survivors of GBV and domestic violence, recommendations to parents, safety guidelines for children in a conflict zone, as well information regarding contact hotlines for individuals.

Local partner, Most, has opened two youth centers, focusing on child protection and psychosocial support in the NGCAs and local partner, MYU, has opened an additional two youth centers in the southern part of Donetsk region. These youth centers serve as day-care centers for younger children, as well as educational centers for older children. Psychologists and psychosocial workers are working with children who show signs of distress as a result of the conflict, as well as with their families.

Primary Health International Medical Corps completed its mobile emergency primary care unit (MEPU) program in May 2015. During the span of the program, 14,216 health consultations were provided in Mariupol and surrounding rural areas, including Pershotravnevy Raion, Volodarsky Raion, and Volnovasky Raion. The majority of the patients at the MEPUs were elderly and many suffered from age-related non-communicable diseases. MEPUs were also able to access buffer zone along the contact line, providing health consultations and reaching villages immediately adjacent to the contact line. These areas had experienced particular need in mobile medical services and pharmaceuticals, as access to these areas is often restricted due to the ongoing conflict.

Health consultation in Shyrokaya Balka Village

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Situation Report Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2015

Security

Despite the signed ceasefire, fighting has continued in eastern Ukraine. According to Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the most volatile situation in Donetsk Oblast has remained in and around the Donetsk airport, including the area of Spartak, 10 kilometers north-west of Donetsk. Pisky and Vodiane, west of Donetsk, have faced a constant exchange of fire, including shelling from the prohibited artillery, mortar and rocket systems. Since withdraw of the non-government elements from Shyrokyne, 20 kilometers east of Mariupol, the situation has remained calm. However, fighting and shelling has moved to multiple locations including east of , Granitne, Sakhanka, Svobodne and Telmanove.

Over the last week, several rallies of civilians and members of volunteer battalions were observed in Kyiv, Mariupol and Odessa.

For additional information please contact:

Jehangir Ali Khan, Regional Coordinator (HQ) [email protected]

Sergey Khomchenko, Country Director (Kyiv, Ukraine) [email protected]

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