The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation, within the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 5 and 11 August, 2017

 

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly introduced the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People that is observed on August 9 each year. On that day, in 1992, the first meeting of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was held.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted on September 13, 2007. According to the document, the main criterion for distinguishing an indigenous people is their own awareness of themselves as an indigenous people. Indigenous peoples have the right to define themselves or their ethnicity in accordance with their customs and traditions. This Declaration also recognizes the fundamental human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples – the right to freedom and equality; On the free determination of their political status and the realization of their economic, social and cultural development; The right to observe and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs; The right to create and control their education systems; The right to participate in decision-making processes at all levels on issues that may affect their rights, life and destiny; The right to land, territory and resources and the right to use the means of their existence and development.

Article 12 of the Constitution of the Donetsk People’s Republic guarantees the rights and freedoms of man and citizen in accordance with generally recognized principles and norms of international law and in accordance with the Constitution of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

According to Article 13 of the Constitution, the State guarantees equality of human and civil rights and freedoms regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, origin, property and official status, place of residence, attitude to religion, beliefs, membership in public associations, and other grounds. Any form of restriction of the rights of citizens on social, racial, national, linguistic or religious grounds is prohibited.

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 3909 appeals. In the period of work between 5 and 11 August 2017, 12 persons have visited the Ombudsman in person, 37 of the claims were accepted by the Appeals department 43 calls were made via hotlines. 25 applications were received via e-mail, 16 written appeals were taken into consideration, 8 – have been reviewed among those received earlier, 43 citizens were provided with legal counseling.

All appeals received can be divided into four categories: violations in criminal law – 227 appeals, violations in civil law– 406 appeals, administrative and legal violations against the DPR citizens – 2 appeals, social and humanitarian issues – 3274 appeals (diagram 1).

 

 

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 11.08.2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 – 460 appeals, temporary accommodation – 397 appeals, the order of a complaint submission and paperwork in case of property destruction – 79 appeals, humanitarian assistance – 164 appeals, employment – 146 appeals, paperwork on travelling documents –11 appeals, search of the missing – 146 appeals, loss of IDs   – 294 appeals, housing issues – 176 appeals, temporary residence permit – 192 appeals, other social and humanitarian issues – 1209 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 11.08.2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 11.08.2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 August 3, 2017 more than 11391 infrastructure objects were partly destroyed (damaged) as a result of hostilities.

More than 6828 objects have been destroyed in Donetsk, 268 units in Debaltsevo, 528 units in Gorlovka, 91 units in Dokuchayevsk, 309 units in Yenakievo, 91 units in Zhdanovka, 75 units in Kirovskoye, 1113 units in Makeyevka, 55 units in Snyezhnoye, 122 units in Torez, 750 units in Khartsysk, 75 units in Shakhtyorsk, 581 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:

– 6241 houses;

– 769 power lines and points of distribution of electricity;

– 176 heating supply facilities;

– 49 water supply facilities;

– 2669 gas supply facilities;

– 14 wastewater and sewerage facilities;

– 102 healthcare facilities;

– 513 general educational institutions (schools, kindergartens);

– 59 vocational and technical educational institutions;

– 62 higher educational institutions;

– 26 physical and sport education institutions;

– 55 cultural institutions;

– 240 road and transport infrastructure objects;

– 60 industrial objects;

– 89 trade objects;

– 267 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 August 4 as a result of shelling by Ukrainian forces of “Trudovskaya” bus terminal, Petrovskiy district of Donetsk, a civilian man born in 1959 sustained bruise to the left side of the chest, bruises to the left shoulder and elbow joint.

On August 10 a civilian man born in 1951 blew up a trip wire while he was cutting grass in cottage cooperative in Dokuchaevsk. He died in hospital from injuries sustained.

 

Within the period between 4 and 10 August, 2017, 1 civilian man sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR as a result of constant shelling from Ukraine.  

Within the period between January 1 and August 10, 2017, 464 persons sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR. Among them, there were 279 DPR servicemen and 185 civilians, including 10 children under 18.

Within the period between 4 and 10 August, 2017, 8 persons died. Among them  there were 7 DPR servicemen and 1 civilian man,  who died on August 10 in Dokuchaevsk.

Within the period between January 1 and August 10, 2017, 199 persons, including 174 servicemen and 25 civilians died in the Donetsk People’s Republic, including an underage child.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict   4488 persons died. Among them, there were 605 women and 3883 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

According to the international humanitarian law applicable to international and non-international armed conflicts, the “exchange of prisoners” is defined as an agreement whereby parties to the conflict (e.g. war or other conflict) simultaneously release certain prisoners: POWs, hostages or political prisoners. This is regulated by the Geneva Conventions of 1929 and 1949.

According to the Law on the Human Rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Ombudsperson has the right to monitor the observance of human rights and international law with respect to civilians and prisoners of war, as well as create preliminary exchange list and take part in relevant negotiations.

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

Based on the updated figures as of 11.08.2017, 502 persons are kept by the Ukrainian side including:

– 231 of those whose presence on the territory of Ukraine had been confirmed. The Ombudsman received credible information on the release of one person due to the end of the conviction term. One person, whose whereabouts on the territory of Ukraine has been confirmed by the Ukrainian side, was included into the list;

– 268 persons whose whereabouts are unknown or are being clarified by the Ukrainian side. One person from the list of unconfirmed by the Ukrainian side was released in July 2017 due to the end of the conviction term. The whereabouts of another person has been confirmed by Ukraine;

– 3 persons for whom the requests were made to the Ukrainian side for the first time.

As of 11 August 2017, 509 persons are considered missing.

 

4. Register of forcibly displaced persons.

The bleak events of the last three years forced people to leave their homes, search for temporary housing, for new jobs and adapt to tough life conditions as a temporary displaced person.

The Ukrainian state creates the appearance of being keen on helping improve IDPs’ life conditions and adapt to new environment. In fact, the State provides no real assistance. People can only rely on aid funds, international and non-governmental organizations.

The problem of housing is the most acute for IDPs. Unfortunately, they have to pay for it again. World practice shows that the countries where armed conflicts occurred assisted their IDPs in every possible way. They were provided with interest-free loans, funds were allocated for compensation and construction materials for destroyed property, vehicles, cottage and apartment building was organized, schools and medical centers were built.

In Ukraine, however, displaced persons are forced to fend for themselves. Unable to afford housing, people ask for help from relatives and friends, as well as sympathetic citizens, who are ready to host them for a while. Many have to pay impracticable amount for rent.

At the same time, real help is provided for displaced persons in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The authorities provide all-round support regardless of registration place – there is no discrimination based on place of residence in the Republics.

Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs) have been opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Any person can receive temporary accommodation there if they need it. 1251 IDPs now live in temporary accommodation of the Office, including 243 underage children. Since the beginning of the conflict 5185 referrals for temporary accommodation have been issued, 291 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 5 and 11 August, 2017, 16 persons have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office on the issues related to internally displaced persons, one of them was accommodated in the TAC of the Ombudsman`s Office in Donetsk.

There are currently 1341 housing spots available for IDPs. Among them: 1345 – in DPR Temporary Accommodation Centres (including TACs of Ombudsman`s Office); 465 – in TACs of the Ombudsman`s Office.

It is necessary to remind that there are 7790 persons, including 1990 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, 2885 individuals live in the centres, including 565 underage children, 4905 persons live in the housing fund of DPR, including 1425 children under eighteen.

 

5. Employment of DPR citizens

Our life is a global construction site. Every day something old is wrecked, destroyed and something new is built. Destruction takes much less time and effort, rather than to rebuilding.

Building not only means construction, but also creation. It is about the human nature to built and create, as we do it every day. Be it everyday life, career, family hearth, new project or architecture.

A constructor is one of the most demanded and important professions in the world. Today, tens of thousands citizens have the honor to be a builder. After all, they make shelter for people and give them the opportunity to feel secure in their homes. It is the DPR constructors who build new houses and rebuild houses destroyed by military operations, and they have the exclusive opportunity to leave a trace behind. The houses built by them will serve as a home for future generations of the DPR citizens.

Being a builder is a painstaking work, demanding dedication. Every day they have to work no matter what the weather conditions are, during hot summer and harsh winter.

It is necessary to understand that construction has positive effect on other branches of industry and national economy that supply construction sites with various types of building materials, transport, necessary equipment and many other things. As a result, production is developing and employment rate is increasing in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The Republic Employment Centre is the main state organ responsible for providing jobs to citizens. According to their data, 24.5 thousands of vacancies were available in the common database as of 11.08.2017. As of August 11, 2017, there were 35.2 thousand individuals who seek for job, registered in the Republic Employment Centers. Among them: 29.3 thousand have been employed (14.1 of them – on permanent positions, 15.2 – 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, 272 persons participated in those workshops.