The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation, within the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic as a result of hostilities between 8 and 14 July 2017

 

Donbass people shape their own destiny.

А.V.Zakharchenko

Traditionally, in the republican constitutions the people is declared as a source of power and sovereignty is proclaimed, which exactly matches the ideals of democracy, to which the leadership of Ukraine aspires. However, in far 2014, a group of people who seized power in Kiev, put themselves above the people, shaping the Constitution and other laws of the country suitable for them. The usurpation of power in Kiev caused protests in Donbass, and the decision to use the army against its own people was the point of non-return and became the beginning of a fratricidal civil war. With the view to peaceful settlement of the conflict, a Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements was signed. However, for four years Donbass residents have been hearing the gunfire every day, which become louder and quieter, however, do not stop completely because of the unwillingness and inability of the Ukrainian side to come to compromise.

Paragraph 11 of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements provides for the introduction of the constitutional reform in Ukraine with the entry into force of a new constitution, which provides for decentralization as a key element (taking into account the specificities of certain regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions coordinated with representatives of these regions). The special status of certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts must also be enshrined in law.

Implementation of this paragraph would become a compromise, the beginning of a dialogue between Ukrainian authorities and Donbass residents who defend their right to self-determination. It is the adoption and implementation of the law on a special status that would show the political will of the Ukrainian leadership to peacefully resolve this internal bloody conflict. However, there are many opponents of a peaceful solution to the military conflict among the ruling elite of Ukraine. At the same time, the “hybrid” nature of the conflict is not only revealed in the manner of conducting military operations against its own people. This is about the terms, when killing of civilians by the regular army is called by a three-letter abbreviation concealing the reality of the so-called “antiterrorist operation”.

One of the ways to get out of the terminological trap for Ukrainian deputies is to change the “ATO” format and to adopt of the Law on the Reintegration of Donbass. According to the man who started the bloody conflict in Donbass, “the law is ready, security and legal experts work out its details.” The feature of these discussions is that the document concerning the future of residents of two large regions is discussed far beyond the ocean. Apparently, foreign advisers of the official Kiev are more competent to assess Ukraine’s state policy regarding LDPR. Although the dialog with Donbass representatives is a direct requirement of the Package of Measures, signed by the Ukrainian side as well.

Unlike the Ukrainian way of respecting their own people and their rights, the Donetsk People’s Republic guarantee the rights of the people by the Constitution of the state, and the implementation and supervision of respect to human rights are subject to thorough inspection of the Human Rights Ombudsman and her Office.

Citizens can apply to the Ombudsman in any suitable way. Now, the majority of applications is 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 3318 appeals. In the period of work between 8 and 14 July 2017, 38 persons have visited the Ombudsman in person, 53 of the claims were accepted by the Appeals department 33 calls were made via hotlines. 42 applications were received via e-mail, 5 written appeals were taken into consideration, 8 – have been reviewed among those received earlier, 35 citizens were provided with legal counseling.

All appeals received can be divided into four categories: violations in criminal law – 199 appeals, violations in civil law– 347 appeals, administrative and legal violations against the DPR citizens – 2 appeals, social and humanitarian issues – 2770 appeals (diagram 1).

 

 

The number of appeals (complaints, applications) from citizens,  submitted to the Office of DPR Ombudsman as of 14.07.2017

 

 

 

 

 

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 – 396 appeals, temporary accommodation – 344 appeals, the order of a complaint submission and paperwork in case of property destruction – 65 appeals, humanitarian assistance – 147 appeals, employment – 129 appeals, paperwork on travelling documents – 8 appeals, search of the missing – 119 appeals, loss of IDs   – 265 appeals, housing issues – 158 appeals, temporary residence permit – 174 appeals, other social and humanitarian issues – 961 appeals (diagram 2).

 

 

 

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 14.07.2017

 

 

 

 

 

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 13 July 2017 more than 11389 infrastructure objects were partly destroyed (damaged) as a result of hostilities.

More than 6828 objects have been destroyed in Donetsk, 268 units in Debaltsevo, 527 units in Gorlovka, 91 units in Dokuchayevsk, 309 units in Yenakievo, 91 units in Zhdanovka, 75 units in Kirovskoye, 1113 units in Makeyevka, 54 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;

– 54 cultural institutions;

– 240 road and transport infrastructure objects;

– 60 industrial objects;

– 89 trade objects;

– 266 objects in other spheres.

According to the official data as of 6 June 2017 there are 2813 objects of governmental and communal ownership damaged, 530 – rebuilt and 2283 – 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 rights of Donbass citizens by Kiev authorities: right to life, to security of the person, to the inviolability of the home.

On 7 July as a result of hostilities near Yasinovataya, not far from Donetsk Filtering Station, a DPR serviceman of 36 years old sustained a mine-blast trauma.

On 8 July as a result of armed provocation by Ukrainian forces near Dokuchaevsk a DPR serviceman born in 1984 sustained an open gunshot fracture of the right thigh.

As a result of shelling near Gorlovka a civilian man of 46 years old sustained brain contusion.

On 10 July as a result of shelling by Ukrainian forces against Petrovskiy district of Donetsk, a civilian woman born in 1967 sustained shrapnel wound of the head; a civilian man born in 1953 sustained shrapnel wound of the chest and of the right shoulder.

On 11 July as a result of hostilities near Bezymennoye village, Novoazovsk region, a DPR serviceman born in 1996 sustained mine-blast trauma, shrapnel wound of the chest.

On 13 July as a result of armed provocation by Ukrainian forces near Avdeyevka industrial zone, a DPR serviceman born in 1970 sustained mine-blast trauma, shrapnel wound of the left side of infraorbital region with foreign body.

It was reported on a DPR serviceman who sustained blunt shrapnel wound of the knee joint as a result of hostilities of July 4 near Sakhanka village, Novoazovsk region.

 

Within the period between 7 and 13 July 2017, 7 persons sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR as a result of constant shelling from Ukraine.  Among them, there were 4 DPR servicemen, 1 civilian woman and 2 civilian men.

Within the period between 1 January and 13 July 2017 421 persons sustained injuries of various severities in the territory of the DPR. Among them, there were 248 DPR servicemen and 173 civilians, including 9 children under 18.

Within the period between 7 and 13 July 2017, 3 persons died. Among them there were 2 DPR servicemen and 1 civilian man.

Within the period between 1 January and 13 July 2017, 178 persons, including 156 servicemen and 22 civilians died in the Donetsk People’s Republic, including an underage child.

To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict   4467 persons died. Among them, there were 604 women and 3863 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 and missing soldiers

and civilians

The release of persons illegally detained by the Ukrainian side is the priority task of the Human Rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic and her Office. Apart from daily processing of the lists of detained persons and communication with prisoners and their relatives, the Ombudsman interacts with international human rights organizations and their representatives.

This week, the Human Rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic Daria Morozova held a meeting with the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Fiona Frazer.

Issues of missing persons who died as a result of torture by Ukrainian forces, and the exchange of POWs were discussed. The emphasis was made on the need for cooperation and joint work with the Ukrainian side in exchanging a DNA bank for the identification of bodies. The Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission received documents proving the use of illegal methods of interrogation by representatives of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. In the course of the meeting the destructive position of plenipotentiary representatives of Kiev in the humanitarian subgroup was also discussed. Our side once again demonstrated openness in the issue of the exchange.

This week, the Ombudsman’s Office received three appeals on capture. A man born in 1983 was told about his mother’s illness (in Kherson region). When he went to visit his relatives in June 2017, SSU detained the man. Another two men, born in 1984 and 1973, were detained in Atryomovsk and Avdeyevka.

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

Based on the updated figures as of 07.07.2017, 684 persons are kept by the Ukrainian side including:

– 419 of those whose presence on the territory of Ukraine had been confirmed. As reported to the Ombudsman’s Office, 7 persons were excluded from the list. They received suspended sentences and were released;

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

As of 07 July 2017, 508 persons are considered missing.

The Ombudsman`s Office continues to clarify information about the individuals, who were detained by the Ukrainian side, the statistics may change.

The DPR Ombudsman`s Office will no longer publicly categorize the detainees by “serviceman”, “arrested for political reasons”, “civilian irrelevant to the conflict” due to safety considerations.

 

4. Register of forcibly displaced persons.

 The most significant problem for temporary displaced persons is the lack of own housing, on which their welfare depends directly. IDPs cannot afford buying a property, so they have to spend most of their income on renting.

The Government of Ukraine gives the appearance of solving this problem. Earlier this year, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a Law No. 4550 “On Amending Article 4 of the Law” On Preventing the Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the Development of the Construction Industry and Housing Construction” (on the Implementation of State Housing Programs).” The law provides for financial support for certain categories of citizens to purchase property, one of the categories is temporarily displaced persons.

The support partially compensates the price of purchasing or construction of housing. These measures will hardly improve the situation of IDPs, very few can raise the necessary amount. This law does not solve the problem, the financial probles still falls on the IDPs. In addition, there are less and less citizens in this category. It’s about thousands of people who are denied the status of an IDP, and at the same time deprived of social benefits and pension.

1256 IDPs now live in temporary accommodation of the Office, including 247 underage children. Since the beginning of the conflict 5152 referrals for temporary accommodation have been issued, 258 of them – in 2017. All the TACs are under the DPR Ombudsman’s inspection. The staffs of the Office monitor the TACs on the 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 8 and 14 June 2017, 24 persons have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office on the issues related to internally displaced persons, 10 of them were accommodated in the TACs of the Ombudsman`s Office in Donetsk.

There are currently 1414 housing spots available for IDPs. Among them: 1358 – in DPR Temporary Accommodation Centres (including TACs of Ombudsman`s Office); 450 – in TACs of the Ombudsman`s Office; 56 – in housing fund of the DPR.

It is necessary to remind that there are 8001 persons, including 2071 children under the age of eighteen registered since the beginning of the conflict. 68 temporary settlements have been established within the territory of DPR, 57 of them operate today, 11 of them are held in reserve. Currently, 2869 individuals live in the centres, including 565 underage children, 5132 persons live in the housing fund of DPR, including 1506 children under eighteen.

 

5. Employment of DPR citizens

Everyone faces an important decision, which determines our future. The choice of profession is one of the key and quite serious decisions that must be made carefully.

From a young age, every person asks themselves the question: “What do I want to be? What kind of profession should I choose?” As a child, we dream of becoming teachers, pilots, military, doctors or businessmen, but we grow, and our desires change. Finally the time comes when we need to make this important choice.

In our time, the problem of professional identity is as vital as never before. Thinking of the future profession, it is necessary to take into account such important aspects as personal interests and abilities. It is necessary to understand your personal qualities and compare them with the qualities that your future profession requires. It is also necessary to be aware of the prospects that your specialty will give.

In the Donetsk People’s Republic there are 18 universities that produces specialists in various sectors. As of July 11, more than 20 thousand applications from candidates have been submitted to higher educational institutions of the Republic.

The Republic Employment Center is the main state organ responsible for providing jobs to citizens. According to their data, 19,7 thousands of vacancies were available in the common database as of 14.07.2017. As of 14 July 2017, there were 32,1 thousand individuals who seek for job, registered in the Republic Employment Centers. Among them: 26,7 thousand have been employed (12,2 of them – on permanent positions, 14,5 – temporarily).

Donetsk Centre of Vocational Education of The Republic Employment Centre organizes 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, 244 persons participated in those workshops.