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"When we were evacuated by volunteers, we left empty-handed, we had nothing,” said Serafima. She was displaced from Kupiansk district and now stays in a collective centre in Kharkiv. With funding from the European Union, IOM refurbished the premises and provided furniture and household appliances to make living conditions more comfortable. IOM psychologists regularly visited the centre’s residents to provide counselling and to arrange meaningful leisure activities.
“Of course, nothing can replace a home, but the support we receive makes us keep our heads up and hope for the best," said Serafima.
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Strengthening Capacity to Address Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Ukraine
Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) is crucial for humanitarian organizations to ensure the safety, well-being and dignity of the people they serve. Working collaboratively with agencies is paramount for combating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) as a combined effort leverages resources and approaches to address the problem.
In a recent inter-agency roundtable on the UN-wide PSEA strategy for Ukraine, IOM presented the findings of a recent comprehensive PSEA risk assessment across all of its areas of work in Ukraine. Some key recommendations include strengthening communications on SEA, community engagement, further assessment and strengthening of capacity of implementing partners and staff.
In line with IOM's commitment to promoting safety and well-being of war-affected people, IOM's social media campaign related to PSEA reached a million people in February-March and provided information on reporting channels and free services. From the beginning of this year, 92 national staff members received face-to-face PSEA training, bringing the national staff completion rate to over 90 per cent.
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Contingency planning: Stockpiling Emergency Shelter Materials and Non-Food Items
IOM continued to invest in preparedness and contingency planning in Ukraine to anticipate developments on the ground, responding as the needs change and evolve. In view of evidence of enhanced dynamics along the contact lines, IOM is actively prepositioning items as part of its contingency plans. This includes the stockpiling of non-food items and emergency shelter materials, including emergency shelter kits and repair items, which will be able to support several thousand households whose dwellings have been damaged. Additionally, IOM and partners will utilize the Common Pipeline, which has been established as a mechanism to support humanitarian actors to provide timely assistance with available stocks and in response to a rapid onset of needs.
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Providing an In-Depth Look at Displacement and Needs in Ukraine
IOM recently released two reports that provide insights into the current state of displacement and the needs of affected populations, helping to inform effective humanitarian response efforts. The Area Baseline Assessment for March 2023 provides detailed information on the geographic location and number of officially registered IDPs, including the recorded changes since the previous round.
IOM also conducted a study in Zakarpattia Region to gather data on the situation, needs and future intentions of IDPs residing in the area. The study adopted a quantitative approach, with data collected through a household survey conducted using a structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews.
IOM will also publish quarterly general population surveys which serve as a preliminary source of data on internal displacement, mobility flows and areas with high humanitarian and recovery needs.
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Community Engagement as a Tool for IDP Integration
IOM organized a series of community engagement events in the past weeks, including cultural and historical tours for displaced families and individuals in Dnipro, Vinnytsia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Over 400 internally displaced people (IDPs) participated in these events, providing them with an opportunity to learn about their new surroundings.
In Zakarpattia Region, IOM organized community picnics with art-based activities to celebrate the coming of spring. IOM also organized a Ukrainian conversation club, city tours, drawing workshops and several trainings for local professionals on conflict management and burnout prevention. These activities highlighted the region's diversity and helped IDPs connect with their new communities.
Community engagement activities can play a key role in supporting displaced families to integrate into their new communities, by promoting social interaction, reducing isolation and increasing access to resources and support networks. The short video about city tours is available on IOM's Facebook page.
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