The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation, within the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 16 and 22 September, 2017

 

 

Peace is an everyday reality for most people in the world, cloudless and carefree reality. But there are still countries where armed conflicts last for years and decades, new hotbeds of conflicts emerge. Peace is so fragile. It is incredibly easy to destroy. One word or one gesture is enough.

On September 21, the world celebrates International Day of Peace. On this day, we pay attention to the importance of global solidarity in the cause of building peaceful and sustainable world.

In 1981, by resolution 36/67 the UN General Assembly introduced the International Day of Peace and established its celebration on the third Tuesday of September. Having introduced this Day, the General Assembly devoted it to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and between states and peoples. 20 years later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 55/282, establishing the International Day of Peace to be celebrated annually on 21 September as a day of universal ceasefire and non-violence, since 2002.

On this Day, the UN invites all countries and peoples to stop all hostilities and celebrate this holiday conducting educational and public information campaigns on peace issues.

Donbass residents know better than anyone how delicate is the balance between peace and war, how easily it can be broken and how hard it is to restore it.

The post of the Human Rights Ombudsman was established in the Donetsk People’s Republic to ensure the state protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, to prevent any form of discrimination regarding the exercise of their rights and freedoms.

Citizens can apply to the Ombudsman in any suitable way. Now, the majority of applications are still verbal and submitted through personal reception either with the Ombudsman or the heads 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 2017 the Ombudsman received 4431 appeals. In the period of work between 16 and 22 September 2017, 15 persons have visited the Ombudsman in person, 42 claims were accepted by the Appeals department 36 calls were made via hotlines. 18 applications were received via e-mail, 15 written appeals were taken into consideration, 8 – have been reviewed among those received earlier, 7 persons have been given legal assistance.

All appeals received can be divided into four categories: violations in criminal law – 248 appeals, violations in civil law– 482 appeals, administrative and legal violations against the DPR citizens – 2 appeals, social and humanitarian issues – 3699 appeals (diagram 1).

 

 

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 22.09.2017

 

 

 

 

 

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 – 523 appeals, temporary accommodation – 443 appeals, the order of a complaint submission and paperwork in case of property destruction – 96 appeals, humanitarian assistance – 166 appeals, employment – 149 appeals, paperwork on travelling documents –11 appeals, search of the missing – 167 appeals, loss of IDs   – 306 appeals, housing issues – 200 appeals, temporary residence permit – 201 appeals, other social and humanitarian issues – 1437 appeals (diagram 2).

 

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens on social and humanitarian isses, received by the DPR Ombudsman`s Office as of 22.09.2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of complains 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 22.09.2017

 

 

 

 

 

1. Statistics and analysis of destroyed infrastructure objects

Targeted shelling by Ukrainian forces causes destruction of private property and infrastructure – this is the reality of the front-line regions of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

As of September 21, 2017 more than 11411 infrastructure objects were partly destroyed (damaged) as a result of hostilities.

More than 6843 objects have been destroyed in Donetsk, 268 units in Debaltsevo, 528 units in Gorlovka, 91 units in Dokuchayevsk, 312 units in Yenakievo, 91 units in Zhdanovka, 75 units in Kirovskoye, 1113 units in Makeyevka, 56 units in Snyezhnoye, 122 units in Torez, 750 units in Khartsysk, 75 units in Shakhtyorsk, 582 units in Yasinovataya, 278 units in Amvrosyevka region, 3 units in Volnovakha region, 24 units in Maryinka region, 17 units in Novoazovsk region, 57 units in Starobeshevo region, 93 units in Telmanovo region, 33 units in Shakhtyorsk region.

Destroyed objects by branches:

– 6247 houses;

– 770 power lines and points of distribution of electricity;

– 176 heating supply facilities;

– 52 water supply facilities;

– 2669 gas supply facilities;

– 14 wastewater and sewerage facilities;

– 102 healthcare facilities;

– 517 general educational institutions (schools, kindergartens);

– 59 vocational and technical educational institutions;

– 62 higher educational institutions;

– 26 physical and sport education institutions;

– 55 cultural institutions;

– 241 road and transport infrastructure objects;

– 63 industrial objects;

– 89 trade objects;

– 269 objects in other spheres.

 

According to the official data as of 27 July 2017 there are 2823 objects of governmental and communal ownership damaged, 531 – rebuilt and 2292 – are to be rebuilt.

 

2. Estimates of mortality, wounds to civilians and soldiers as a result of hostilities in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic.

 

Almost every day the DPR Ombudsman’s Office records cases of violations of Donbass citizens’ rights by Kiev authorities: right to life, to security of the person, to inviolability of the home.

On September 15 as a result of armed provocation by Ukrainian forces in Petrovskiy district of Donetsk, a civilian woman born in 1953 sustained shrapnel wound of the left eye.

On September 16 as a result of shelling against Kirovskiy district of Donetsk, a civilian man of 22 years old sustained mine-blast trauma, blunt shrapnel wound of the abdominal.

On September 17 as a result of hostilities near Bezymennoye village, Novoazovsk region, a DPR serviceman born in 1976 sustained mine-blast trauma, shrapnel wounds of the chest and both legs.

As a result of shelling in Petrovskiy region of Donetsk a civilian man born in 1941 sustained mine-blast trauma, epidermal wounds of the right side of parietal and occipital regions, multiple shrapnel wounds of hands and legs.

On September 18 as a result of armed provocation of Ukrainian forces in Petrovskiy district of Donetsk a civilian man born in 1952 sustained multiple shrapnel wounds of the right side of face, sclera of the right eye and the right side of chest, anterior abdominal wall.

In Osykovovillege, Starobeshevo district, as a result of careless handling of an explosive object, a civilian man of 54 years old sustained multiple shrapnel wounds the front surface and left shin.

On September 21, as a result of shelling by Ukrainian military against Krutaya Balka village, Yasinovataya region, a DPR serviceman born in 1965 sustained gunshot penetrating wound of the chest.

 

Within the period between 15 and 21 September, 2017, 7persons sustained injuries in the territory of the DPR as a result of constant shelling from Ukraine. Among them, there were 2 DPR servicemen, 1 civilian woman and 4 civilian men.

Within the period between January 1 and September 21, 2017, 501 persons sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR. Among them, there were 298 DPR servicemen and 203 civilians, including 11 children under 18.

There were no casualties within the period between 15 and 21 September, 2017 in the territory of the DPR.

Within the period between January 1 and September 21, 2017, 225 persons, including 199 servicemen and 26 civilians died in the Donetsk People’s Republic, including an underage child.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict   4514 persons died. Among them, there were 605 women and 3909 men, including 75 children under eighteen.

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. The information is being processed at the moment and it will be included into general statistics of the injured individuals.

 

3. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers

and civilians

On September 20 a regular meeting of humanitarian subgroup took place in Minsk. In the course of the meeting the lists of detainees and the return of identity documents to those released from Ukrainian captivity were discussed.

 

“Official Kiev deliberately does everything possible to delay the exchange in order to blame Donetsk for this. However, through the five months of negotiations, we managed to achieve some success. To date, representatives of Ukraine are ready to release 203 people. Earlier, this figure was 156 people.

We are waiting for reciprocal steps from Ukrainian representatives in Minsk. I call on the Ukrainian side to stop dividing people into categories and include 11 persons accused of gravest crimes and the so-called “non-ATO” category in the exchange list, then a long-awaited exchange will take place. I will also note that 80% of Ukrainian prisoners are accused of gravest crimes, but we do not divide people into lists and categories. From the side of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criminal cases of all those released and handed over to the Ukrainian side, have been closed.

 I would like to remind that neither categorizing nor division of people based on charges is prescribed in Minsk Agreements. There is one requirement: to exchange “all for all”, said Daria Morozova.

 

This week no appeals on arrest and missing persons were received by the Ombudsman’s Office in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Based on the updated figures as of 22.09.2017, 474 persons are kept by the Ukrainian side including:

– 267 of those whose presence on the territory of Ukraine had been confirmed.

– 204 persons whose whereabouts are unknown or are being clarified by the Ukrainian side.

Four persons were located in the DPR; four persons were released earlier; three persons received suspended sentences and were released; another three persons need not to be searched for.

As of 15 September 2017, 510 persons are considered missing. Hypothetically, they might be in Ukrainian captivity.

 

4. Register of forcibly displaced persons.

Ukraine has repeatedly shown its indifference to the fate of internally displaced persons. But who could have thought that unrealized rights, prejudiced attitude and endless bureaucracy are far from all that the Ukrainian authorities are capable of!

Recently, a board game based on the problems of IDPs appeared in Ukraine. “Pereselenska blukanyna” (troubles of displaced persons) was created by a public organization with the support of the Ministry of Social Policy. Of course, it was approved and replicated. The sense of the game is allegedly to feel like an IDP and go through all difficulties faced by IDPs. The authors of the game argue to pursue an exceptionally good goal – to tell the public about the difficulties of displaced persons and draw attention to violation of their rights and problems of adaptation of this category of citizens.

Any sane person would understand that this game is nothing but mockery. Fear, pain and death – that’s what internally displaced persons really experienced. Apparently, someone decided that turning all this into a board game would be fun and informative. It turns out that the crippled fates of people is just a game.

IDP is not an abstract abbreviation for category of citizens with limited rights and special responsibilities. A displaced person is a person equal in rights and freedoms to any other citizen of Ukraine, the one whose life was broken in one moment and will never become the same again, the one who endured hardships, and who needs understanding and support. Instead of rendering such support, the authorities adopt fictitious laws, which create the appearance of solving the problem, and shamelessly “play the feelings” of people.

Undoubtedly, the creation of such a game shows the whole cynicism of the Ukrainian government. So far, safe conditions for crossing the line of demarcation have not been created; problems with social payments and issuing of documents have not been resolved. All that Ukraine has done for three years is releasing a board game. In fact, the game itself is a direct proof that Ukraine fails to organize the movement of people within the country and to guarantee constitutional rights of its citizens.

Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs) have been opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Any person can receive temporary accommodation there if they need it. 1237 IDPs now live in temporary accommodation of the Office, including 244 underage children. Since the beginning of the conflict 5208 referrals for temporary accommodation have been issued, 314 of them – in 2017. All the TACs are under the DPR Ombudsman’s inspection. The staffs of the Office monitor the TACs on a weekly basis, with the view to respond promptly to the citizens’ needs. The Ombudsman makes every effort to improve social and living conditions for people who live in the TACs.

During the period of work between 15 and 29 September, 2017, 24 persons have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office on the issues related to internally displaced persons, one of them was accommodated in the TACs of the Ombudsman`s Office in Donetsk.

There are currently 1300 housing spots available for IDPs. Among them: 1300 – in DPR Temporary Accommodation Centres (including TACs of Ombudsman`s Office); 429 – in TACs of the Ombudsman`s Office.

It is necessary to remind that there are 7823 persons, including 2026 children under the age of eighteen registered since the beginning of the conflict. 64 temporary settlements have been established within the territory of DPR, 56 of them operate today, 8 of them are held in reserve.

Currently, 2871 individuals live in the centres, including 556 underage children, 4952 persons live in the housing fund of DPR, including 1459 children under eighteen.

 

5. Employment of DPR citizens

Professional self-determination is the basis of a person’s self-confidence and status in society. The choice of profession should be considered as a process that covers the entire period of professional activity of the individual from the beginning of professional identification to retirement. Let’s consider the stages of development of professional self-determination:

1) Children’s game: the moment when a child tries on various professional roles and shows behaviour featuring them.

2) Teenage fantasies rooted from various occupations that are attractive to teenagers.

3) Age of adolescence and a large part of young age – a preliminary choice of occupation, where different types of professional activity are evaluated in terms of interests and abilities.

4) Decision-making – determining the level of qualifications, experience and choosing the occupation.

It should be noted that the process of professional self-determination usually coincides with the end of a comprehensive school.

 

 «We must assist schoolchildren as much as possible to make a conscious choice of their future profession. This is a task not only for universities, but also for schools and extracurricular institutions. Our goal is to provide each student with additional education. These additional classes will definitely help children make a choice consiousely”, said Larisa Poliakova, the Minister of Education.

 

Many efforts are made for training of highly specialized human resources in the Donetsk People’s Republic, because this is the basis for re-industrialization of the economy. On September 21, 2017 the staffs of Starobeshevo Employment Centre told students of Starobeshevo secondary school about the services they can provide.

Pupils were familiarized with basic professions, labor market, areas of professional training available. The students underwent psychological testing, designed for determining the type of profession most appropriate for each one of them in accordance with the following classification: the man-nature, the man-tech, the man-art image, the man-symbolic system, and the man-man.  The staffs also told about demanded professions in the labor market, applying to this classification.

Students showed keen interest in this topic, actively participated in the discussion, and asked many questions.

According to their data, 30.7 thousands of vacancies were available in the common database as of 22.09.2017. As of September 22, 2017, there were 40.9 thousand individuals who seek for job, registered in the Republic Employment Centers. Among them: 33.8 thousand have been employed (17.9 of them – on permanent positions, 16.0 – temporarily).

Donetsk Centre of Vocational Education of The Republic Employment Centre organises regular free public workshops to train practical skills, such as work with personal computers; technique and mechanization of trade accounts (work with cash register machines); the program “1C: Accounting 8.2.”; fundamentals of entrepreneurship; processing and decoration of textile and clothing products etc. Since the beginning of 2017, 304 persons participated in those workshops.