The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 30 November and 6 December 2019

The current week was marked by several significant events that took place in the Republic.

On December 3, the Republic celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The purpose of this holiday is to draw the attention of the population to the problems of people who have lost their ability to work, to protect their rights, freedoms and dignity, as well as the possibility to participate in public life. The problem of protecting the rights of people with disabilities is extremely important since according to the UN, more than one billion people have some form of disability, of which 80% live in developing countries. 50% of people with disabilities cannot afford health services. More than 100 million disabled people are children.

For the Donetsk People’s Republic, the issue of observing the rights of persons with disabilities is extremely relevant. At the moment, 140,991 people with disabilities live in the territory of the Republic, including 6,339 children. The state takes all possible measures to provide assistance, benefits and support to people with disabilities. On this day, some celebratory events were held in the DPR. Supported by the DPR Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the “New life” organization based in Donetsk organized a concert. Ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, basketball matches on wheelchairs were organized in “Kirovets” Sports Centre. The players were from DPR Rostov-on-Don region and Stavropol Territory (the Russian Federation).

The results of the implementation of programs for the restoration of cities and districts during 2019 were also presented. According to the analysis made, in terms of financial support, the best result in restoration was shown by Torez and Novoazovsk district, the worst result was in Dokuchaevsk.

Along with the restoration of housing in the Republic, the issue of eliminating the damage caused by the armed conflict is still acute. So, the Civil Protection Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the DPR holds a Republican Scientific Conference with the aim of discussing the prospects for the development of civil protection and fire safety of the Donetsk People’s Republic and developing new approaches to resolving important issues.

Another significant event was the adoption of the law on the state border, which establishes the borders of the Donetsk People’s Republic within the Donetsk region as of 2014. In addition, the Law provides that until the settlement of relations between Ukraine and the DPR, the border will be at the line of contact.

In her activities, the Human Rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic strongly promotes human rights and freedoms, ensures their protection and monitors their observance.

Upon a human rights violation, the need to restore one’s rights, to obtain legal advice or appeal against actions (omission) of state bodies or authorities, citizens can apply to the Ombudsman in a way that is convenient for them.

Now, the majority of applications are still verbal and submitted through personal reception either with the Ombudsman or staff of the Office, addressing the Public Complaints and Appeals Department, via hotlines and via web-reception on the Website of the Ombudsman. There is a possibility to file a written complaint that may be submitted either in person or via e-mail.

Since the beginning of 2019, the Ombudsman received 6196 complaints. In the period of work between 30 November and 6 December 2019, 38 people received counselling by the Appeals department, 5 written appeals were accepted; 1 person received counselling by the Working Group on Issues of Temporary Displaced Persons, 2 written complaints were accepted; 2 people received legal counselling. 22 written appeals were approved for consideration, 18 – have been reviewed among those received earlier. 57 calls were received via hotlines, 14 applications were received via e-mail.

All appeals received can be divided into nine categories: violations in criminal law – 579 appeals, violations in civil law – 632 appeals, administrative and legal violations against the DPR citizens – 71 appeals, complaints against the acts or omissions of judiciary – 194 appeals, complaints against the acts or omissions of law-enforcement authorities and servicemen – 343 appeals, complaints against the acts or omissions of government officials – 256 appeals, social, humanitarian and economic issues – 2412 appeals, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 1151 appeals, other issues – 558 appeals (diagram 1).

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 06.12.2019

Among all incoming correspondence to the Ombudsman of DPR, the one which deals with the issues of exercise of social rights of citizens and violations of these rights is the most frequent.  These issues are: pension and social payments, benefits, disability, humanitarian aid – 751 appeals; transportation, communication and consumer rights – 67 appeals; issues of housing legislation, protection of consumers of housing and public utility services – 452 appeals, migration legislation issues – 695 appeals, labour legislation issues – 239 appeals, healthcare issues – 179 appeals, issues of education, culture and sport – 29 appeals. (Diagram 2).

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens on social and humanitarian issues, received by the DPR Ombudsman`s Office as of 06.12.2019

The majority of complaints are traditionally received from Donetsk, by territory (Diagram 3).

The number of appeals (complains, applications) from citizens, received by the DPR Ombudsman`s Office as of 06.12.2019

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 3 December, outside Yasinovataia, a DPR serviceman, born in 1976, sustained mine-blast trauma and closed craniocerebral injury.

Within the period between 29 November and 5 December 2019, 1 DPR serviceman sustained injuries in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Within the period between 1 January and 5 December 2019, 215 people, including 142 DPR servicemen, 24 civilian women, 44 civilian men and 5 children sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 29 November and 5 December 2019, 5 DPR servicemen died in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Within the period between 1 January and 5 December 2019, 165 people, including 156 DPR servicemen, 6 civilian women and 3 civilian men died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4894 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.

2. 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 6 December 2019, 241 people are held by the Ukrainian side including:

– 88 of those whose presence on the territory of Ukraine had been established and confirmed;

– 153 people whose whereabouts are unknown or are pending clarification by the Ukrainian side.

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

As of 6 December 2019, 465 people are considered missing. They could have been taken prisoner in Ukraine.

3. 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.

During the period of work between 30 November and 6 December 2019, 3 people have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office on the issues related to being affected by the armed conflict. There are currently 1056 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens affected by hostilities. Since the beginning of the conflict, 6684 people, including 1596 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. 64 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 53 of them operate, 11 of them are held in reserve. Currently, 2177 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk Administration, including 403 underage children, 4507 people live in the housing fund, including 1193 children.