May 30, 2023 – Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding that solidifies their ongoing cooperation in support of internally displaced people impacted by the war to integrate, recover and rebuild their lives.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Chernivetska oblast has generously hosted more than hundred thousand displaced persons fleeing the hostilities. There are about 100,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) currently registered in the region.
However, despite the distance of the region from the front line, the consequences of the war, like in many regions across Ukraine, are felt here as well. Therefore, the Regional State Administration, together with UNHCR, is making every effort to ensure that Ukrainians seeking safety here feel welcomed, secure and protected.
UNHCR and its NGO partners are active across a wide range of areas throughout the region assisting displaced and war-affected people with essential items, such as bedding, blankets, and hygiene kits, and free legal advice on renewing documents and accessing social benefits. Psychosocial support is also provided to help people deal with the trauma of the war. Most recently, following shelling in the area on 25 May 2023, UNHCR provided tarpaulins to rapidly assist the affected communities in Khotyn hromada where several homes were damaged.
To increase the capacity of the Departments of Social Protection to register displaced people so that they can access social benefits such as pensions, UNHCR has provided training sessions and office equipment such as laptops. UNHCR and its local NGO partner NEEKA, have supported hosting communities with repairs of collective centres, creating 335 new sleeping places, and improved the living conditions for 890 displaced persons.
During the colder months when energy infrastructure was targeted leaving people without electricity and heating, generators were provided to collective centres in Chernivtsi city and the region, as well to a centre for survivors of gender-based violence, where displaced families are now living in safety. UNHCR also supported Invincibility points in the Chernivetska region with solid fuel heaters, jerrycans and hygiene kits.
At the signing ceremony, the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing, said: “I am very grateful to Chernivetska oblast authorities for the strong cooperation we had during the past year and that will continue this year. People who have fled from frontline regions under attack to your Oblast have been warmly welcomed and well received here, and I am glad that UNHCR and our partners have been able to support your response and address needs in protection, assistance and accommodation.”
Commenting on the cooperation with the UNHCR, the Head of the Chernivtsi State Oblast Administration, Ruslan Zaparanyuk, noted: “Today, one of the main priorities is to provide comfortable living conditions for people who fled atrocities to our safer region. We are already preparing for the autumn-winter period, furnishing premises for their permanent, not temporary residence. Currently, repair works are ongoing at the facilities. There are not enough budget funds for this, so we work with international missions. Thank you for the comprehensive support of our state, the help you provide in arranging housing for internally displaced persons, the consultation and legal support of our citizens”.
The UN Refugee Agency will continue supporting IDPs and war-affected people in close collaboration with the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration.
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