The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation, within the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 18 and 24 August 2018

 

On the last Sunday of August Donbass celebrates one of its main and citizens’ favourite holidays – the Miner’s Day. In the region, rich in coal, with its coal mines and terricones, this is the main holiday because miner’s trades are the most common here.

For 70 years now, on this day we congratulate miners, drilling machine operators, timberers, shotfirers, mining engineers, and mineral engineers – everyone who risk their lives every day to mine “black gold” from the depths of the earth. This profession became the embodiment of our region, of its people, sturdy and courageous workers with a strong sense of justice.

It’s been more than four years that Poroshenko’s regime has been pursuing a policy of genocide towards Donbass citizens, targeting civilians and destroying infrastructure using all kinds of calibres. Coal enterprises are city-forming in the region, and the Ukrainian forces destroy mines while shelling against settlements of the Republic. As a result of this regular shelling, coal mines were de-electrified, hundreds of miners were blocked underground. Once, Zasyadko mine was under attack, which blocked 390 miners underground for almost 24 hours. As a result of the Ukrainian aggression, 13 coal mine enterprises of the Republic have been almost destroyed and do not operate currently, and “Kommunarskaya No.22” mine was completely destroyed by Ukrainian forces and “Aidar” battalion fighters.

However, history has once again shown that the main treasure of the region is its people! Thanks to a selfless labour of miners, 15 mines fully provide all sectors of economy of the Republic with “black gold”. Since the beginning of the year, more than seven and a half million tons of coal was mined by the workers. And the capacity is much more than that. In September 2017, a new level was put into operation in “Volynskoye” State Enterprise “Torezantratsyt”, which opened up new prospects for the enterprise.

A Mining Development Program is operating in the Republic, so new coal faces are opened, the infrastructure of coal enterprises is being improved, all social programs are carried out, and, as a result, the production of coal is rising and salaries are timely paid.

The Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko congratulated miners on their professional holiday: “Thanks to your labour, our Republic receives fuel. Our mining industry did not fall to decay, as Ukrainians thought it would. We face all the difficulties and overcome them: we have put 15 new coal faces into operation, have mined 7.5 million tons of coal since the beginning of the year, which is a one-third increase as compared to the previous year. This is thanks to you. Thanks to the miners’ labour, pension and benefits are paid, the social sphere is developing. We are grateful to you for your hard work!”

The right to labour is one of the fundamental rights of a person. According to the Constitution of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the human rights and freedoms are respected and guaranteed in the Republic. The Article 30 says that everyone has the right to freely use their labour capabilities and to choose the type of activity and profession.

In the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Ombudsman Office is responsible for observance of the rights and freedoms. So, one can file a complaint with the Ombudsman or make an appointment for a personal reception if his/her rights have been violated.

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 the beginning of 2018, the Ombudsman received 3856 complaints. In the period of work between 18 and 24 August 2018, 1 person visited the Ombudsman in person, 37 persons received counselling by the Appeals department, 12 citizens received counselling by the Working Group on Issues of Temporary Displaced Persons, and 13 persons received legal counselling. 6 written appeals were approved for consideration, 7 – have been reviewed among those received earlier. 20 calls were received via hotlines, 7 applications were received via e-mail.

All appeals received can be divided into six categories: violations in criminal law – 291 appeals, violations in civil law– 292 appeals, administrative and legal violations against the DPR citizens – 5 appeals, social and humanitarian issues – 1867 appeals, issues connected with hostilities – 480 appeals, other issues – 921 appeals (diagram 1).

 

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 24.08.2018

 

 

 

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 – 462 appeals, temporary accommodation – 515 appeals, issues of housing legislation, protection of consumers of housing and public utility services – 178 appeals, migration legislation issues – 319 appeals, labour legislation issues – 146 appeals, healthcare issues – 108 appeals, guardianship and family law issues – 50 appeals, issues of education, culture and sport – 22 appeals, activities of public associations, organizations and trade unions, religious organizations – 24 appeals, land use and tenure – 10 appeals, the rights of servicemen and law enforcement officials – 33 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 24.08.2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 24.08.2018

 

1. Statistics of destroyed infrastructure objects

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

As of August 7, 2018, more than 19433 infrastructure objects were partly destroyed (damaged) as a result of hostilities.

More than 14849 objects have been destroyed in Donetsk, 269 obj. in Debaltsevo, 540 obj.  in Gorlovka, 91 obj.  in Dokuchayevsk, 312 obj.  in Yenakievo, 91 obj.  in Zhdanovka, 75 obj.  in Kirovskoye, 1113 obj.  in Makeyevka, 56 obj.  in Snyezhnoye, 122 obj.  in Torez, 750 obj.  in Khartsysk, 75 obj.  in Shakhtyorsk, 583 obj.  in Yasinovataya, 278 obj.  in Amvrosyevka region, 3 obj.  in Volnovakha region, 24 obj.  in Maryinka region, 18 obj.  in Novoazovsk region, 57 obj.  in Starobeshevo region, 93 obj.  in Telmanovo region, 34 obj.  in Shakhtyorsk region.

Destroyed objects by branches:

– 1453 houses;

– 772 power lines and points of distribution of electricity;

– 177 heating supply facilities;

– 55 water supply facilities;

– 2669 gas supply facilities;

– 14 wastewater and sewerage facilities;

– 107 healthcare facilities;

– 522 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 August 7, 2018, there are 2750 objects of governmental and communal ownership damaged, 795 – rebuilt and 1946 – are to be rebuilt, 9 obj. – beyond repair.

 

2. The death toll, injuries 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: the right to life, to security of the person, to inviolability of the home.

On 17 August, as a result of military operations in Kominternovo village, Novoazovsk region. a DPR serviceman born in 1988 sustained a blunt shrapnel wound.

On 20 August, as a result of military operations in Novoazovsk region, a DPR serviceman born in 1993 sustained an injury to the thigh.

As a result of armed provocation by Ukrainian servicemen in Yasynovataya region, a DPR serviceman born in 1984 sustained mine-blast trauma, blunt shrapnel wound with impaled objects.

As a result of military operations in Novoazovsk region, DPR serviceman born in 1984 sustained a bullet wound.

 

Within the period between 17 and 23 August 2018, 4 DPR servicemen sustained injuries in the territory of the DPR as a result of armed aggression of the Ukrainian side.  

Within the period between 1 January and 23 August 2018, 226 persons sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR. Among them, there were 142 DPR servicemen, 53 civilian men, 29 civilian women and 2 underage children.

Within the period between 17 and 23 August 2018 – 4 DPR servicemen were killed in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic.   

Within the period between 1 January and 23 August 2018, 110 persons died in the territory of the DPR, including 8 women and 102 men, including 2 underage children.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict   4677 persons died. Among them, there are 613 women and 4064 men, including 78 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.

 

3. Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers

and civilians

 This week the Ombudsman’s Office in the Donetsk People’s Republic received 2 appeals on arrest.

A man born in 1968 was detained in May 2015, he was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment and confiscation of all personal property under Article 258-3, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

A man born in 1974 was detained in July 2018 by SSU staff, he was accused of offences under Article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Based on the updated figures as of 24.08.2018, 282 persons are held by the Ukrainian side including:

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

– 200 persons whose whereabouts are unknown or are being clarified 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 24 August 2018, 473 persons are considered missing. There is a possibility that they are held in Ukrainian captivity.

4. Register of displaced persons and affected citizens.

At the time of the 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).

Since the beginning of the conflict 5380 referrals for accommodation in social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres etc.) have been issued, 137 of them – in 2018. With the coming into force of the Order of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic No. 137 of 24.04.2018, Territorial authorities in cities and districts are now responsible for accommodating affected civilians. Social housing objects, which used to carry out activities under the patronage of the Ombudsman Office, are authorized to supervise the authorities.

During the period of work between 18 and 24 August 2018, 12 persons have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office on the issues related to internally displaced persons. There are currently 1249 accommodation places available for IDPs in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

It is necessary to remind that there are 7452 persons, including 1792 children under the age of eighteen registered since the beginning of the conflict. 75 social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres) have been opened in the territory of DPR. 52 of them operate, 23 of them are held in reserve (according to the information provided by Territorial commissions of cities and districts, the number of housing objects held in reserve was changed). Currently, 2626 individuals live in social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centres) of the Donetsk Administration, including 491 underage children, 4826 persons live in the housing fund of the DPR, including 1301 children under eighteen.

 

5. Employment of DPR citizens

The Republican Employment Centre is the main institution responsible for providing jobs to the population.

As reported by the Centre, in the period from 1 January to 24 August 2018:

• there were 33.9 thousand vacant positions registered in the Centre by employers;
• there were 31.5 thousand job-seekers registered at the Employment Centre. Among them: 23.9 thousand have been employed (15.0 of them – on permanent positions, 8.9 – temporarily).
• 278 job-seekers have undergone professional training facilitated by employment centres: 49 persons undergone training and 229 persons – retraining.

The training covered most demanded professions: electric and gas welder, plasterer, bricklayer, painter, roofer (roll-roofing and shingles), maintenance technician, automotive service technician, repair and maintenance electrician, operator of chemical treatment of water, furnace equipment inspector, boiler-house operator, stoker, seamstress, hairdresser, seller, chef.