The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 29 February and 6 March 2020

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

In the Donetsk People’s Republic, World Civil Defense Day was held. This holiday was established by decision of the General Assembly of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) in 1990. World Civil Defense Day is designed to draw the attention of the world community to the importance of civil protection and to increase the preparedness of the population for self-defense in the event of disasters or accidents, as well as pay tribute to the efforts and self-sacrifice of the personnel of national civil defense services in disaster management. This date is of particular importance for DPR citizens, who have been living for six years in the conditions of the armed conflict. Donbass residents know very well what bomb shelters, shelling, mines and shells are. Every year, the Ministry of Emergencies of the Republic carries out tremendous work to eliminate and prevent emergency situations in the territory of the DPR. Training and awareness-raising lectures are organised for the civilian population. Monthly civil defense lectures are held in schools and universities of the Republic, during which children are taught the rules of evacuation and actions in case of emergency. Such activities help citizens be ready for emergency situations, and one day they can save their lives.

However, despite constantly being ready for defense, the residents of the Republic still remember how to smile and feel the joy. The week of Maslenitsa has just ended in the DPR. Public festive activities were organized throughout Donbass for all residents and guests of the DPR. Major events dedicated to the holiday were held in the park of culture and recreation named after A.S. Shcherbakov. Children and adults competed in a tugging war game, climbing a wooden pole for gifts and sawing logs. Dance competitions were also held. In addition, a souvenir and food fair was organised, and concerts were held daily. The festivities ended with the burning of a straw effigy. This holiday symbolizes the end of a freezing winter and the arrival of a warm spring, as a symbol of rebirth and peace, which Donbass need so much.

Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 965 complaints.

All complaints received can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 188 complaints, economic rights – 39 complaints, social rights – 132 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 128 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 31 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 0 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 13 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 12 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 422 complaints (diagram).  

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 06.03.2020

Personal rights

Human rights guarantees in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings

Enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare

Economic rights

Enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions

Enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families

Social rights

Enforcement of rights in the field of education

Issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR

  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 Donbass citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.

On 4th March, a civilian woman, born in 1968, and a civilian man, born in 1962, sustained wounds of varying severities as a result of fire from an antitank missile system against a civilian bus carrying passengers outside Dokuchaevsk. The missile missed the target and exploded nearby.

On 5th March, as a result of shelling against Petrovsky district, a DPR serviceman, born in 1978, sustained shrapnel wounds.   

Within the period between 28 February and 5 March 2020, 3 people, including 1 DPR serviceman and 2 civilian men, sustained injuries of varying severities in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 1 January and 5 March 2020, 16 people, including 12 DPR servicemen and 4 civilian men, sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 28 February and 5 March 2020, no deaths have been documented in the Donetsk People’s Republic.     

Within the period between 1 January and 5 March 2020, 8 DPR servicemen died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.  

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4,903 people died, including 81 children.

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

 

In the reporting period, the Ombudsman’s Office in the Donetsk People’s Republic didn’t receive any appeals on arrest.  

Based on the updated figures as of 6th March 2020, there are 141 people whose whereabouts are unknown or are pending clarification. Five persons from the list have been released as they had served their sentences.

This week the Ombudsman’s Office in the Donetsk People’s Republic didn’t receive any appeals on missing persons.

As of 6th March 2020, 465 people are considered missing. They could have been taken prisoner in Ukraine.

  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 centres).

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 958 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. Since the beginning of the conflict, 7,084 people, including 1,621 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. 65 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 55 of them operate, 10 of them are held in reserve. Currently, 2,181 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 394 underage children, 4,903 people live in the housing fund, including 1,227 children.