The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of hostilities between 9 and 15 May 2020

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

This week in the Republic was marked by several significant occasions.

The Donetsk People’s Republic celebrated three important holidays, despite the restrictions, connected with the pandemic of the coronavirus COVID-19.

On 9 May on Victory Day, rally dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held. More than thousands of crews moved in the most massive column in the history of the Republic. Denis Pushilin was in charge of the column. The rally finished in the Lenin Komsomol recreation park. After the column arrived, the copy of the Victory Banner was deployed, and cars were lined up into shape of the anniversary date “75”.

Also, the celebration of the Day of the Republic on 11 May was not less important occasion. This day in 2014 the referendum on self-identification of the region, organized by the Donbas people was held in Donetsk region. The event concluded with the proclamation of the DPR as a separate state. In honor of the event, more than thirty artists, sportsmen and social figures from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg congratulated citizens of the DPR with this memorable date. TV-concerts and online-meetings with famous politicians were held.

The final holiday of this week was the Constitution Day of the Republic. 6 years ago the Constitution of the Donetsk People’s Republic was adopted. The source of power of a new state is people of the Republic, conducting the power directly, also with the help of public authorities or local authorities. The DPR Constitution conducts the development of our society, the principles of which are people’s authority, social justice and equality. Unfortunately, the holiday took place without any celebrations because of the threat of the coronavirus infection, incidence of which has doubled for last week in the Republic.

At the moment 229 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 were fixed in the Republic. 188 patients are in treatment, 36 are discharged from hospitals, and 5 cases are fatal. At the present time, patients’ health is satisfactory, taking all necessary medical care.

The Head of the Republic signed the Directive on payments of benefits to the vulnerable population during the quarantine, with the aim of supporting citizens, based on the present difficult epidemiological situation. According to the document of the Commission on the providing of the financial assistance in monetary terms, regional and urban administrations are able to make a decision on the payment of allowances for those, who are already on file without the provision of documents. Citizens can confirm the right to receive the payment of benefits with the help of available means of communication, providing all necessary information (about revenue, absence of amendments in the composition of the family, status, data, influencing on the right to receive the material support, etc.).

However, despite the restrictions, connected with the coronavirus, inhabitants of the Republic will have an opportunity to distract from the quarantine discomfort thanks to the opening of the new recreation season in the Central recreation park named by A.S. Shcherbakova. At the present time the preparation and technical verification of the park attractions are finished, the territory of the rest zones is ennobled.

Let us recall, according to the Directive of the DPR Head №57 since 14 March 2020 “On introducing the high alert regime”, the mode of the opened summer platforms of catering services, sports objects in the open air is allowed until 22:00.

It should be reminded, that the DPR Ombudsman’s Office continues work in normal mode with the exception of a public reception. Citizens can send complaints at the address: Pushkin Boulevard, 34, 5th floor, office 540.

Donetsk, the DPR, 83105; or in an e-mail to: [email protected]

“Hot line” telephones also work:

+38 071-301-73-52 – on general issues;

+38 071-404-69-29 – on issues of missing people as a result of the armed conflict.

The Ombudsman continues attentively explore and monitor current situation in the Republic, also calls citizens for being careful and follow the essential sanitary-epidemiological norms.

 

Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 1894 complaints.

All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 645 complaints, economic rights – 72 complaints, social rights – 257 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 200 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 50 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 3 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 49 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 17 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 601 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 9 and 15 May, no injuries were fixed in the territory of the Republic.

Within the period between 1 January and 15 May 2020, 57 people, including 33 DPR servicemen and 24 civilians (including 6 children and 6 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

Within the period between 9 and 15 May 2020, no deaths were documented in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Within the period between 1 January and 15 May 2020, 19 DPR servicemen and 4 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4,918 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 the DPR.

 

  1. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers andcivilians

During the reporting period the DPR Ombudsman’s Office received no statements of detention.

Based on the updated figures as of 15th May 2020, there are 115 people detained by the Ukrainian side. However, official representatives of Kiev declare that they either do not provide information about these people, or clarify information about them.

On 15 May 2020 468 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 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 919 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. 54 of them operate, 10 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 7074 people, including 1630 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2151 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 393 underage children, 4923 people live in the housing fund, including 1237 children.