UNHCR to expand support programs for displaced persons in Ukraine

On April 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk and Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing signed a UN Memorandum of Understanding.

This is stated in a press release published on the UNHCR website.

"People's greatest wish is to go back home. But for so many, there is no home to return to since it’s been destroyed or damaged, or is located in an area that is not safe. It is therefore important that displaced people can access legal, social and other services, find jobs and continue education in the place where they currently have found safety and, importantly, a place to live," said Lindholm Billing.

It is noted that intensive shelling and fighting have caused extensive damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. The full scale of the damage is hard to ascertain at this stage, as the war rages on.

"What we know for certain is that the needs in Ukraine are growing by the day. Housing is one of the areas of greatest concern. Although hundreds of thousands of people are now staying in temporary reception centers or with hosting families who have generously opened their homes in safer parts of the country, longer term solutions need to be found," she said.

During the meeting, Vereshchuk and Lindholm Billing agreed on concrete next steps, which will include the reconstruction of community centers and the expansion of protection services for displaced persons in areas where they can get work, education and social services, and support constructive participation in local issues that will allow them to rebuild their lives.

Both parties also agreed to cooperate in mapping abandoned buildings, such as sanatoriums, that could be renovated and repurposed to accommodate people who have lost their homes.

UNHCR has also reaffirmed its readiness to begin repairing light and medium-sized homes damaged by shelling when security conditions allow people to return home.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are destroying key infrastructure facilities and residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers, and ballistic missiles.