UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Rivne Regional State Administration signed today a Memorandum of Understanding that sets out concrete areas of cooperation aimed at supporting the humanitarian needs of internally displaced people who found shelter in Rivne region.
Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hostilities have led to the destruction of more than 1.4 million housing units with over one-third destroyed beyond repair, according to the newly released Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment conducted jointly by the World Bank, the EU, and the UN.
Rivne oblast currently hosts around 55 thousand IDPs, though it has hosted up to 85 thousand over the last year at the peak of the displacement.
Since March, UNHCR has been providing humanitarian assistance to people who fled their homes and relocated to other oblasts of Ukraine. Priority is given to those with specific vulnerabilities, like older persons, persons with disabilities and families with young children. In Rivne oblast, UNHCR has supported the authorities in responding to the needs of those who fled from areas close to the front line. Essential items like mattresses, blankets and kitchen sets have been distributed, and emergency repair of collective centres. Legal aid and psychosocial support have also been provided through UNHCR’s local NGO partners working in the region. UNHCR also works with local communities on livelihood programmes to help people become more self-reliant.
UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing commended the partnership with the Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration, Mr. Vitaliy Koval, and his team during the signing ceremony “I would like to thank you and your team for enabling UNHCR to support the Oblast Administration to support the people impacted by the war against Ukraine. Our contribution is modest compared to the overall needs but is part of a collective effort to support people and communities to recover and rebuild.”
Mr. Vitaliy Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration, emphasized that the collaboration with the UNHCR is important for working out solutions for the large number of displaced people in the oblast: “Today, only powerful international organizations can ensure sustainability and stability in providing assistance to internally displaced persons. But coordination of joint actions and decisions of the authorities and charitable structures is important here. Each aid should be as effective as possible. Our common task is not only to support, but also to socialize and employ displaced people. After all, busy hands will never go down.”
To date, 81,767 people in the Rivne region have been assisted through UNHCR’s protection, cash and in-kind assistance and emergency shelter and housing programmes. Across Ukraine in 2022, UNHCR provided humanitarian assistance and services to more than 4.32 million people impacted by the war. In the first two months in 2023, UNHCR has so far assisted nearly 600,000, bringing the total number of people reached through UNHCR’s programmes to 4.9 million.
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