UNHCR steps up shelter programme in eastern Ukraine 
Autor: Tereza Cristina França | Publicado: 2016-08-06T06:30:00-03:00



This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 5 August 2016, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.






By:&nbsp;William Spindler &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;5 August 2016






Luhansk
 resident Petro (left) talks to a UNHCR staff member during a mission to
 the region in eastern Ukraine.&nbsp; ©&nbsp;UNHCR/Daria Volkova

For the first time in five months, UNHCR convoys have reached 
conflict-affected populations in the non-government controlled area of 
Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, delivering vitally needed 
construction materials for thousands of people who had their homes 
damaged or destroyed during the conflict.
Two separate convoys of 25 trucks each travelled with support from 
the World Food Programme (WFP) and local partners to deliver supplies 
that will enable UNHCR to expand its shelter programme in the region. 
The first 25 trucks arrived on Thursday and delivered 23,000 roofing 
sheets to the UNHCR warehouse in Luhansk.
Another 25 trucks arrived today (Friday) with cement, bricks, roofing
 material, tarpaulins and nails as well as kitchen sets, jerry cans and 
shoe dryers for use in winter.
Despite the ceasefire agreed in 2015, the security situation in 
eastern Ukraine remains tense and volatile. Flare-ups of hostilities 
continue to lead to daily casualties among civilians and the destruction
 of homes. UNHCR estimates that some 10,000 houses in non-government 
controlled areas of Luhansk have been damaged as a result of the 
conflict.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2014, more than 2 million people 
have been forced to flee their homes to seek sanctuary elsewhere in the 
country or abroad. Nearly 800,000, including the elderly and others in 
the most vulnerable categories, remain in need of assistance in or close
 to the conflict zone.
Many homes damaged by shell and mortar fire had their windows and 
roofs blown off. During an assessment mission to Luhansk in May, UNHCR 
officials met 77-year-old former construction worker Petro and his wife.
 They had lived in a tiny basement room – the only part of their shelled
 home that protected them from snow, rain and wind – for more than two 
years.
UNHCR remains extremely concerned about restrictions on freedom of 
movement that have aggravated hardships for people like Petro, who must 
also struggle to have access to benefits and entitlements – including 
pensions – on the government-controlled side.
A major problem is the limited number of checkpoints to cross the 
front line. In the Luhansk region, only one pedestrian checkpoint in 
Stanitsa Luhanskaya remains open, with people queuing up to eight hours 
to cross. Long lines of 200-400 cars were observed this week at 
checkpoints in the Donetsk region.
The payment of social benefits and pensions to Internally Displaced 
Persons has been suspended until their residential addresses have been 
verified. This is a major challenge, especially for the elderly, people 
with disabilities and other individuals with specific needs who face 
insecurity while waiting for long hours at check points without shelter 
or adequate sanitation. UNHCR renews its call to all actors to guarantee
 unrestricted access to benefits and rights to all displaced persons, 
regardless of registration status or current place of residence.
The delivery of humanitarian assistance has decreased to 
non-government controlled areas in the Luhansk region, as many UN 
agencies have not been able to operate there since February 2015.
This year the UNHCR team in Luhansk, working with a local 
construction company and volunteers, and in coordination with local 
village administrators, plans to complete the rehabilitation of 1,500 
damaged houses by October 2016, in addition to 1,500 households repaired
 in 2015. About 1,100 families in 15 villages located close to the 
dividing line have already received construction materials, but 40 per 
cent of the targeted population will not be able to complete shelter 
works without UNHCR’s support.
For more information on this topic, please contact:

In Ukraine, Nina Sorokopud, sorokopu@unhcr.org, +380 50 310 1767
In Geneva, William Spindler, spindler@unhcr.org, +41 79 217 3011
In Geneva, John Chiahemen, chiaheme@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 9549
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http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2016/8/57a458324/unhcr-steps-shelter-programme-eastern-ukraine.html
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