General Coordination Meeting – Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk Oblast) 22 October 2015 Discussion Action Points/Decisions 1. Update of the current humanitarian situation in Oblast from LOMCA, UN OCHA and SES UN OCHA representative thanked the partners for active participation in HNO workshop held in Sievierodonetsk and announced that the results would be shared once the report is finalized and approved. There were further discussions of the Updated Temporary Order for control over the movement of persons, vehicles and cargos (goods) across the contact line within Donetska and Luhanska Oblasts in terms of its practical application and these discussions brought out many issues. There are certain regulations with unclear implementation mechanisms e.g. how to deliver cargos from Luhanska Oblast where no staging areas are planned to be arranged. On the other hand even while these staging areas are not arranged in Donetska Oblast, the National Fiscal Service of Ukraine (NFSU) and Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) expressed their willingness to facilitate movement of the humanitarian cargo. OSCE SMM reports are being regularly shared with the cluster leads and focal points in the field as it was agreed before for the partners to respond to the needs identified locally. It was noted that OSCE SMM reports continue having a lot of information about mined areas or UXOs present in the residential areas. The partners were again requested to provide information about their activities and plans in order to avoid duplication and to identify the gaps. Deputy Chief of Luhansk Department of SES informed that they helped LOMCA to receive and distribute the humanitarian aid (40 tons of food) from the State Reserve Fund. It also supports Luhansk Region Agency for Sustainable Development in delivering water tanks to schools in Popasnyanskyy raion. Deputy Chief of Luhansk Department of SES informed that 2375 hectares were examined for mines and UXO presence and 16746 UXOs were found and disposed. Still it was noted that 150,000 hectares are need to be examined for demining. The priority now is given to the areas under power lines and around gas supply lines to ensure safe renovation work. Three additional demining teams have arrived to Luhanska oblast to supplement the operation of 2 demining teams in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. The decision was made to establish the Eastern Office for Humanitarian Demining. The support in renovation of the premises for the Office was requested from the humanitarian partners as the building allocated for the office was damaged during shelling. The German Cooperation Agency GTZ promised to supply necessary equipment for this office as soon as it is established. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) | Ukraine Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Discussion Action Points/Decisions NRC proposed air photographic service for identifying mine locations using the drones. Technical assistance in demining is welcomed from any international organisation. Deputy Head of LOMCA also drew attention to mining situation in the oblast as it is a key for ensuring safe renovation of the infrastructure. It is expected that it might be possible to restore gas pipeline between Krymske and Tryokhizbenka (Novoaydarskyy raion) after the area is demined and there will be no need for construction of the new pipeline to Tryokhizbenka. The work on renovation of damaged reserve power lines has started and this will ensure stable power supply during the winter. Water is supplied to all settlements but renovation of pump stations and water towers is needed for secure water supply in the cold season. Deputy Head of LOMCA shared information that GTZ also will provide humanitarian aid in the form of folding beds, pillows, blankets and food for distribution via SES. UNHCR representative asked LOMCA to share information about the state resources allocated and implemented for the IDP response together with planning for 2016. It would help partners to confirm and plan their activities are complementary to those of the state. 2. Education UNICEF continues renovation of 15 schools under two projects financed by the government of Japan. It is also expected that 1/3 classes will receive sets of furniture. Fifteen schools and fourteen kindergartens participate in LEGO project aimed at social and psychological rehabilitation for children and training with teachers. The meeting with the Education Department was held to assess the needs in renovations or equipment for schools and kindergartens. EU/UNDP project Coordinator raised the issue of cooperation with UNICEF in further renovation of EU/UNDP CBA project will cooperate with UNICEF at schools where CBA has implemented some projects. It was advised to contact UNICEF office in Kyiv for Kyiv level for joint projects in rural areas. further evaluation of opportunities to improve the situation in schools in rural areas. 3. Emergency Shelter/NFI UNHCR is finalizing winterization plans. All humanitarian organizations were invited to share information about winterization needs in order to avoid duplication. Shelter Sub-National Cluster collects information about the needs and requests from the local communities. It was noted by UNHCR that there were no plans of heavy repairs in 2015 but the issue was raised at the cluster meeting and the discussions will be held to meet requests of the local authorities next year. There are some needs that require systematic approach and cross checking with partners. As it is not possible to carry out activities in NGCAs many humanitarian actors are diverting their efforts towards operations on United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Discussion Action Points/Decisions GCAs and it requires coordination to see what additional funding is available and how best it can be used. During assessment of the winterization needs, humanitarian actors have found out other sector needs, in The humanitarian partners to share with OCHA or particular in the areas along the contact line and it is necessary to redirect this information to OCHA or appropriate cluster representatives the needs they other Cluster leads (WASH, Health, Food etc.) in order to cover these needs. identified during assessments but are not able to cover for the partners to take further actions. NRC keeps implementing the winterization plan together with UNHCR. The tender for coal purchasing (to deliver to 5 locations) has been finalised. The pilot project for restoration of completely destroyed 4 houses has been launched and the initiative will be continued if it is proved to be successful. OCHA called the humanitarian partners to share summaries of the field visits to communities with the partners in order to identify the needs that can be covered by different organisations. 4. Food security ADRA continues distribution of food vouchers and has already covered 5,000 families with food vouchers on GCAs of the oblast with the plan to cover 10,000 beneficiaries more. It is also decided to deliver food parcels to remote villages along the contact line as it is more practical. WFP implementing partners - ADRA and Mercy Corps - geographically shared the areas where they will cover the needs. ADRA also starts delivery of food to social institutions. Mercy Corps has made 10,000 cash transfers for food purchase and 11,000 more beneficiaries will receive cash aid before the end of the year. Nine thousand food parcels were distributed along the contact line with another 9,600 parcels to be distributed in the near future. Now Mercy Corps is negotiating delivery of food products to the so-called “grey zone” (Zolote-5). There are intentions to expand cash assistance to the northern parts of GCA of the oblast. In total 25,000 beneficiaries are targeted for the aid till the end of the year. There was a request to supply food parcels to the students of the Luhansk National University named after Taras Shevchenko that is evacuated to Starobilsk and Mercy Corps representative recommended for the students and teachers to contact the call-centre individually for registration as beneficiary of the appropriate assistance. 5. Health and Nutrition WHO mentioned about the meeting of HIV/AIDS/TB working group that was planned to operate as coordinating council but it hasn’t started its activity yet. Certain measures are planned in relation to early response and detection of 8 dangerous illnesses including the manual and first response kits. The challenges with supply of the vehicles for mobile teams were stressed by WHO and this impedes access to remote villages along the contact line. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Discussion Action Points/Decisions MSF is active along the contact line but still there are gaps in providing primary medical care in some locations. WHO representative raised the issue of rehabilitation of people injured during the conflict as there is no system in the country to offer proper treatment. Many people received poor quality treatment after amputation or injury and they require additional therapy now. In many cases people can’t afford the costs of the treatment even if it is available. Still it was noted that this issue needs decisions and actions at the national level. It was also stressed that though the patients come for the primary medical services of the mobile teams and receive these services free of charge together with some medications they don’t continue treatment if they need the secondary level of medical care services as they have to travel long distances and they may have no funds for this. The oblast received all necessary vaccines for children and now it is necessary to restore the vaccination calendars. It was noted that according to the Chief Paediatrician of the oblast no cases of polio were registered in Luhanska Oblast. On the other hand the statistics of vaccination is not reliable due to high migration levels.