OVERVIEW
The ability for humanitarian organisations to deliver much-needed assistance in non-government controlled areas continues to be a major issue. On one side, because of the restrictions to operate for many humanitarian organisations imposed by the de facto authorities, on the other – because of Government- imposed bureaucratic impediments. Insecurity, damages to infrastructures, coupled with extreme winter conditions, aggravate the situation.
People living in NGCAs must cope with damaged homes, schools and hospitals, unaffordable food, limited medicines, depleted savings – all this aggravated by winter conditions. A very limited number of international organisations are officially authorised to operate in areas beyond Government control to respond to the needs of many victims of the conflict through different modalities, including collaboration with local interlocutors. Stakeholders are concerned that operational partners are increasingly thin.
The Ukraine Humanitarian response plan, based on analysis of needs, targets 2.5 million among the most vulnerable of the 3.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, countrywide. It does appeal for the donor to generously contribute to fund activities worth USD 298 million. The key priorities of 2016 HNO are protection of civilians, unimpeded access of humanitarian community to the affected population, supply of emergency water, food and shelter, and access to critical services and markets. The plan also calls for an urgent recovery framework to be put in place to ensure that many victims, and particularly those displaced for a long period of time, who now need jobs, housing and access to services and not necessarily life-saving humanitarian aid, receive support which is beyond the purview of the humanitarian response.