Five million people have been affected by the crisis in eastern Ukraine that started in April 2014. Fifteen months into the conflict, humanitarian organisations in Ukraine are focusing on an estimated two million people living in areas along the contact line half of them in zones beyond government control, where insecurity has been endangering their lives, and access to basic goods and services remains problematic. An additional estimated two million people living in areas beyond Government control are also high on the priority list for humanitarian action, in view of the continuous difficulties to access social services and payments amidst lack of operational banking system coupled with prices for basic commodities significantly higher. A significant part of these most affected and vulnerable people are yet to receive assistance as access to them has been challenging due to insecurity, bureaucratic impediments and logistical hurdles. There are concerns that the ability and remaining capacities of these communities to cope with the impact of the conflict and crisis are decreasing, which exacerbates those concerns with winter fast approaching.
Many people has also been forcibly displaced, either within Ukraine or beyond the country’s border. The government is undertaking verification exercise of numbers of people displaced as this group is highly mobile and somre returns have occurred. Meeting the needs of the IDPs who have been in protracted displacement requires synergies and complimentary response by humanitarian and recovery/development actors in the immediate and longer term in view of limited resources available.
Humanitarian access to most vulnerable people, including those in NGCAs, has been one of the main challenges in July. Aid organizations have been unable to reach vulnerable people in non-government controlled areas since 21 July when inter-agency aid convoys have been suspended. This came after 14 July, when the de-facto authorities in NGCAs of Donetska oblast issued a decree on registration to all humanitarian organisations operating in the area. Similar moves have been announced in NGCAs of Luhanska oblast. Under international humanitarian law (IHL) and customary IHL, parties to the conflict are responsible for facilitating access for humanitarian organizations to affected people. It is hoped that engagement with the de-facto authorities on finding a practical resolution to the registration issue will lead to the full resumption of assistance delivery to NGCAs, which is essential critical as the winter is approaching.
An electronic pass system to cross the ‘contact line’ became effective on 7 July. While the electronic system experienced some technical issues in its initial stages, later on most of those issues have been resolved. Nevertheless, the challenges with regard to freedom of movement for civilians persisted during the reporting period. Long queues of people, several kilometers long, were reported at open crossing points. Protection concerns remain, given continuing hostilities close to checkpoints, and the presence of unexploded ordnance. Reports of civilians often queueing for hours with no access to water, sanitation, food or medical services persisted during July.
Meanwhile, concerns continued over severe shortages of commercial flow of food, medicines and other essential items into NGCAs resulting in humanitarian needs caused by regulations imposed by Government authorities. Prices for food and medicines are significantly higher compared to GCAs. WFP’s latest market update said food prices in NGCAs are 59 per cent higher than the national average. Similarly, prices for various medicines, which are still available, are much higher than the national average.
Access to safe drinking water is another major concern, particularly in NGCAs. Damage and destruction sustained by the water supply infrastructure affect access to safe water for up to 1.3 million people in eastern Ukraine. Voda Donbasa, the main water company in the region, estimates that about 3 million people are at risk of acute water shortages from piped system if continued violence prevents critical repair and rehabilitation work.
Despite access and other challenges, between January and July 2015, partners provided close to 1.7 million people with access to safe drinking water. More than 92,000 households were provided with non-food items and shelter repairs across the country. Another 35,000 people were provided medical consultations and 31,000 children received nutritional supplements. Until end of July, Food Security Cluster partners delivered food vouchers and food parcels to 234,000 people. Moreover, 287,000 people were covered by mine risk education. Psychosocial support reached over 57,000 children. Livelihood activities benefited about 52,000 people, mainly in government areas.
The Ukraine 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is significantly under-funded, with US$116 million disbursed or pledged against the requirement of $316 million. The figures below shows funding reported in the global Financial Tracking Services (FTS) only. Several partners stated having received donor funding which has not yet been reported to FTS. This complicates monitoring and accountability. National actors, with their own private funding, are also substantially contributing to the humanitarian response in Ukraine. Aid agencies (both national and international) are working to ensure complementarity of relief efforts