IDP Support Made Accessible: Coalition of Human Rights Organizations Presents the List of Support Programs at UNHCR Office in Kyiv

On January 21, representatives from the Coalition of organizations focused on protecting the rights of those affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine, including East SOS, presented the List of Support Programs for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The event was supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and was held at the UNHCR Ukraine office.

The speakers who presented the document included:

• Yaroslav Taranets – Advocacy Expert at East SOS;
• Ksenia Hedz – Advocacy Coordinator at Right to Protection Charitable Fund;
• Violeta Artemchuk – Coordinator at the Donbas SOS.

During the presentation, the speakers provided a detailed overview of the programs, including their conditions, gaps, and specific features, as well as suggestions for improving their mechanisms.

Yaroslav Taranets focused on housing-related programs: compensation for destroyed and damaged housing, state programs for housing provision, credit and investment mechanisms. For instance, he pointed out that the exclusion of individuals who lost their homes in temporarily occupied territories from the eVіdnovlennia (eRecovery) program is both unjust and undermines the principles of equality and non-discrimination in access to compensation. This decision unfairly places the negative consequences of temporary occupation on the affected individuals, which contradicts the state’s duty to protect property rights.

All existing state programs were organized and categorized into separate sections, making it easier to understand what kind of support IDPs can expect, in all sorts of situations.

“This document was created in response to the common questions we hear from people during evacuation: where to go, what kind of assistance they can expect, what will happen next. We’ve gathered all the programs in one place to clearly and transparently communicate the support options available,” said Yaroslav Taranets.

At the same time, he emphasized that some of the programs listed are temporary solutions, and housing policy, in particular, needs to evolve towards more sustainable models that guarantee stable housing. He believes that the approach to housing provision should be differentiated and take into account the various needs of those who have lost their homes.

Yaroslav Taranets also highlighted the role of local government bodies in supporting IDPs, stressing that communities have their own resources and authority, and people who move there can become a driving force for local development and recovery.

The List of Support Programs for Internally Displaced Persons is a practical guide that helps people quickly navigate available opportunities and necessary actions to obtain assistance. The document can be accessed via the link.

It is worth noting that in December of last year, the Coalition of organizations working on the protection of rights for those affected by armed aggression against Ukraine prepared a List of Support Programs for IDPs.