Situation Overview
The number of security incidents along the contact line increased since the beginning of the year, increasing concerns around the humanitarian situation of civilians. As an example, in mid-March, the staff of one of the two water filtering stations of Donetsk, serving approximately 300.000 persons across the contact line, left the premises owing to increased insecurity. The filtration plant cannot be operated without their presence. During the three days during which the plant did not function, the water flow to Avdiivka was interrupted. Local authorities provided water trucking to the 30,000 people living in the area, but the reserves run out quickly. Clean water supply in Donetsk city and surroundings was also at risk and people residing at higher levels in multi-story houses do not receive water. The flow was eventually restored once the parties to the conflict agreed to a ‘window of silence’ and staff could resume operations. The situation, however, continue to be fragile.
Humanitarian partners are also concerned about the suspension of social benefits for thousands of IDPs until their situation is verified, owing to suspected fraudulent schemes. The payment of pensions is also suspended for many IDPs and for those living in areas beyond Government control as this is linked to their status of IDPs. The processes that are followed to establish the correct lists of IDPs whose payments were suspended is still unknown. At present, the Luhansk Pension Fund has already suspended paying pensions to 47% of IDP registered pensioners. While recognizing that the Government has a duty to combat fraud, the lack of transparency on the procedure and the lack of clear communication of the decision (and the criteria used) to those concerned is an issue. IDPs must have access to social services, benefits, pensions and bank services without restrictions and limitations just as any other citizen of Ukraine. The verifications are in contradiction with the existing legislative framework. A Government decision to de-link the pensions and social payments – which are an acquired right of all citizens who meet certain eligibility requirements and are in no way linked to displacement – to the additional requirement of registering as an IDP is warranted. Every effort should be made to ensure that pensions and the state social assistance are accessible for all Ukrainians, including in the areas not controlled by the Government of Ukraine.