The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of hostilities between 17 and 23 October 2020

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

The current week in the Republic was marked by several significant occasions

Residents of the DPR are actively preparing to celebrate on 25 October the National Flag Day of the Donetsk People’s Republic, i.e. a birthday of the main state attribute of the country. The tricolor, where black means fertile land, blue means the Sea of ​​Azov, and red means the blood that our defenders shed for the freedom of their native land that has long been known throughout the world as a symbol of the resilience and steadfastness of Donbas. In honor of the holiday, a nationwide competition of author’s poems “My flag is my country” is held on the territory of the Republic. According to the results of the competition, it is planned to publish a book of poetry. Also, it is planned to conduct lessons in educational institutions on patriotic topics as part of activities held in conjunction with the holiday.

In many ways, it is precisely the education of respect for one’s culture and history that is the cornerstone in the state-building. At the same time, it is always important to separate history from “myth-creativity”. Meanwhile, history, as is known, does not have the subjunctive and it is always necessary to accept both its light sides and dark spots. Unfortunately, this was forgotten by the politicians who came to power as a result of the revolution in Ukraine and tried to replace the memory, language and identity of the people of Donbas.

The consequences of this mistake are still evident. Thus, over the past week, the JCCC recorded a large number of cases of violation of the open-ended ceasefire by the AFU. In particular, mortar attacks were carried out on the territory of the DPR in the Donetsk and Mariupol directions, as well as in such settlements as Yakovlevka and Leninskoye.

But, despite the difficulties connected with a long-term armed conflict, the Republic continues to live and develop. The most striking confirmation of this thesis is the approval of the project for the reconstruction of the destroyed Palace of Youth “Yunost”. We express our hope for a quick start of work on this large-scale construction project and the return the glory of the main cultural and entertainment center of the Republic to it.

Another important and relevant event for the residents of the Republic was the heating season that started on 20 October. Now at the heat supply facilities, the operation of the equipment and pressure in heating networks is being regulated. According to the Deputy Minister of the Housing and Communal Services, 854 boiler houses are already supplying heat, which is 76.5% of the total.

The stable supplying of heat to homes of citizens is an important link in the prevention of colds in the autumn-winter period, which is especially important in connection with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Thus, from the beginning of the pandemic to the present day, 5735 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in the Republic. 2787 patients are in treatment, 243 cases are fatal.

The Ombudsman continues to attentively explore and monitor the humanitarian situation in the Republic, also call citizens for being careful and follow the essential sanitary-epidemiological norms, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

 

Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 4564 complaints.

All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1998 complaints, economic rights – 173 complaints, social rights – 662 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 422 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 120 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 15 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 127 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 41 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 1006 complaints.

 

  1. Death toll, injuries to civilians and soldiers as a result of hostilities in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic

The DPR Ombudsman’s Office documents cases of violations of Donbas citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.

Within the period between 17 and 23 October 2020, in the territory of the Republic, no injured and dead people among the civilian population were fixed.

Within the period between 1 January and 23 October 2020, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 31 civilians (including 6 children and 11 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 1 January and 23 October 2020, in the territory of the DPR, 5 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Officially confirmed information on individuals who have been wounded since the beginning of the conflict continues to be reported to the Ombudsman’s Office in DPR.

 

  1. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers and civilians

Based on the updated figures as of 23d October 2020, there are about 104 people detained by the Ukrainian side, 362 people are considered missing.

 

  1. Register of displaced persons and affected citizens

At the time of armed conflict, the civilian population living in the zone of fighting and near the contact line is often affected. With the view to protect the human right to life and security of the person, and to provide assistance to victims as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine, social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centers).

With the coming into force of the Order of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic No. 137 of 24.04.2018, Territorial commissions in cities and districts are now responsible for accommodating affected civilians. They work under supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.

There are currently 927 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 64 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 55 of them operate, 9 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 6907 people, including 1563 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2044 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 367 underage children, 4863 people live in the housing fund, including 1196 children.