Ukraine - Humanitarian needs are spiralling in Ukraine with aid agencies tripling the number of people targeted for aid in 2015 from 900,000 to 3.2 million. According to the government, the conflict in the east of the country has already displaced over a million people. According to the UN, the conflict has already left of 6,000 people dead since April 2014.

IOM has already helped almost 39,000 vulnerable internally displaced people (IDPs). Almost 17,000 of them received winter clothes, medicine, household and hygiene items provided with funding from the UN, Untied States, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

Another 22,000, including families with children, the elderly and the disabled, received cash from a European Union (EU)-funded IOM project launched in December 2014 in the Kharkiv region. The Kharkiv region serves as a safe haven for over 130,000 IDPs, according to the government.

IOM plans to continue to support the most vulnerable IDPs, who remain displaced due to the lack of security and fall outside the social welfare net.

According to a survey conducted by IOM in the Kharkiv region, most IDPs reported a monthly income of between UAH 500 and UAH 1,500 (EUR 15 – EUR 45).

IOM has expanded its assistance to also focus on long-term solutions that provide integration opportunities and livelihood support for IDPs, and that help host communities. EU and Norwegian-funded micro-enterprise and self-employment training schemes for IDPs are currently targeting over 1,200 people.

In addition, a recently confirmed USD 1.4 million contribution from Japan will aim to ensure that people living in selected communities in the Donbas region will have access to social and public infrastructure, and better livelihood opportunities.

The project will help to renovate and upgrade infrastructure including social, educational and medical facilities, as well as providing livelihood opportunities for some 300 people, that will benefit the whole community.

For an infographic of IOM’s aid to displaced people in Ukraine please go to:http://www.iom.int/files/live/sites/iom/files/Country/docs/IOM-Ukraine-IDPs-map-02-03-2015-eng.pdf

For more information, please contact

Varvara Zhluktenko

IOM Ukraine

Email: vzhluktenko@iom.int

Tel: +38 067 447 97 92