The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities in the period from 12 to 18 March 2022

News Overview of the social and humanitarian situation

Unfortunately, this week has been marked by a terrible tragedy. On March 14, the Ukrainian armed forces launched an attack on the civilian population using the “Tochka-U” tactical missile system in the centre of Donetsk. As a result of this monstrous terrorist attack, 21 citizens were killed and 37 more were injured. At the moment, the investigating authorities have recorded the numbers of this missile, and in the future the perpetrators will be identified and will be punished.

Unfortunately, this terrorist attack was no exception, the very next day the AFU again attacked residential areas with “Tochka-U” missile in Makeyevka. As a result of the shelling, six people, three of them children, were injured.

These crimes are a vivid indicator of the complete powerlessness of the entire military machine of Ukraine. Despite the losing position, Kiev, apparently, has the courage to fight only with the civilian population, the elderly and children.

However, this will come to an end very soon, the Donbas Republics every day liberate more and more new settlements and cities, where they are restoring infrastructure and helping residents, such as Volnovakha, liberated from the AFU, which is regularly visited by the DPR Ombudsman. To date, the Ombudsman has already organized a mobile office on the basis of the local administration in the city, as well as an on-site reception of citizens on the central square in order to receive appeals and fix the current needs of the population, and provide humanitarian assistance. Interviews of local residents are being conducted, during which numerous facts of war crimes of the AFU against the civilian population are revealed.

In addition, the Ombudsman, together with the Department for Social Support for Retired Military Personnel and Patriotic Education under the Head of the DPR and the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Ministry of Health of the DPR, began documenting the facts of death and organizing the burial of the dead. A search for bodies, places of spontaneous burials and identification of the dead is underway. On the basis of the Volnovakha central hospital, they began issuing death certificates of the republican type.

All the data collected in the future will be of help for criminal cases, which will be positively facilitated by the cooperation agreements signed this week between the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor’s Offices of the DPR and LPR. The agreements also provide for interaction in protecting the rights and freedoms of a human and a citizen, ensuring the implementation of international treaties in the criminal law sphere, and combating crime.

Another legal blow for criminals from the ranks of nationalists and military personnel of Ukraine should be the introduction by the DPR People’s Council of amendments to the criminal and criminal procedure codes, providing for liability for disseminating false information about the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as units of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The decision was adopted in two readings unanimously. Further, the document will be signed by the Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin.

However, in addition to legislative initiatives, the Republic is also working around the clock in the direction of the speedy restoration of communications in the territories liberated from the AFU. The construction of new base stations of the Phoenix mobile operator is being carried out as soon as possible. In turn, all social facilities in the liberated settlements of the DPR will be provided with free starter packs. At the moment, SIM-cards are being handed over to district administrations to ensure the work of emergency departments, hospitals and schools.

Providing communications to the population remains particularly relevant against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. According to the Ministry of Health of the DPR, to date, 164,480 cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in the country. 21174 patients are in treatment, 9916 cases are fatal.

 

Since the beginning of 2022, the Ombudsman received 2652 complaints.

 

  1. Death toll and 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.

 

  1. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiersand civilians

 

  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, there social facilities (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres).

In accordance with 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 the supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.