OVERVIEW
The temperatures have already dropped and winter is at the doorstep, and winterization activities have suffered severe delays as most operations came to a standstill since mid-July, when the de-facto authorities imposed a registration system without which organizations cannot operate. Three million people living in areas beyond Government control are – to various degrees – affected by this decision. By 8 October, only three international organizations could restart operations in Donetsk as they received registration, and one in Luhansk. Some local partners also continue operations. Needs well outweigh assistance delivery capacity of these partners. Some 16,000 tons of humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter and non-food relief supplies are ready for immediate delivery.
Some progress has been made with regards to simplifying the Government’s strict bureaucratic requirements for humanitarian actors to operate close to the contact line (both in Government and non-Government controlled areas). Yet, more remains to be done to address issues related to freedom of movement for people and commercial goods, resumption of banking and social payments, and of basic services in areas beyond government control, which are considered ‘illegal’ since December 2014. Such provisions continue to create undue hardship for those living in areas beyond Government control.
The international humanitarian community has been urging all parties to the conflict and stakeholders to guarantee and facilitate free and unimpeded access from organizations to all affected people, and for people to services and aid, with bureaucratic procedures and regulations reduced to the minimum.