Restoring Donbas: the main events of 27 July – 2 August

11:27 / 02 Aug. 2015 / 702

More than $ 2 billion is necessary for the restoration of Donbas. The debt to Donbas miners is more than UAH 400 million. The number of IDPs has reached 1.4 million people. More details about key events related to the conflict in Donbas – in our weekly review of major news.

IDPs from Donbas

This week, according to the UN, the number of IDPs in Ukraine has reached 1.4 million people. Among them there are 60 thousand children of school age.

While Regional military administration is working out the program on work with IDPs, the United Nations will assist the displaced persons, who want to do their own business. In particular, it will allocate cash grants and provide the necessary consultations on starting a business.

Despite the scale of IDP’s problems, State Agency for Donbas Restoration still has not received budget for its operation. It was also became known last week. It was stated that the reason for the lack of financing is the fact that state budget for the current year has already adopted without taking it into account.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations and volunteer movements continue to provide assistance to IDPs. Thus, last week, community initiative “Restoring Donbas” opened its first Center of the advisory help in Kiev for IDPs, who live in Kiev. The center works on the principle of «single window». It is located on Povitroflotskyi ave., 21/2.

On the territories of Donbas, which are under Ukrainian control

Last week, Vadim Chernysh – the head of State Agency for Donbas Restoration- stated that almost $ 2 billion is necessary for Restoring Donbas (according to his estimates). $ 1 billion 200 million for the infrastructure and another $ 300 million for the restoration of peace. It is unknown, whether this data is authentic due to the fact that Chernysh is the only employee of the State Agency (according to official information).

Meanwhile, the amount of wage arrears is more than UAH 44 million in Luhansk region. These debts have accumulated in one state enterprise, six municipal and 40 enterprises of different ownership forms. In addition, it was reported that wage arrears to Ukrainian miners is UAH 400 million.

Volodymyr Demchishin – the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine – told about it last week. At the same time, the minister proposed to resume direct subsidies from the budget of state-owned mines. The head of the ministry hopes to reduce the cost of fuel to consumers via such practice.

Last week, the Department of Statistics of Donetsk Region published data about the fact that real salary (including inflation and paid taxes) decreased during June 2015 compared to June 2014 – by 19.5%. In addition, according to the Department of Statistics in the Donetsk region the number of registered unemployed decreased by 3.2% compared with May 2015 and amounted to 22.7 thousand people.

Also last week, it was reported that sown areas have decreased by 540,000 hectares compared with 2014 in Donbas. Industrial facilities have significant problems. In particular, Slavyansk TPP suspended its work. The reason for the termination – is a lack of fuel on the stations. Avdeevka Coke Plant – the largest coke producer in Ukraine – has demonstrated a positive result in this case. According to International Financial Reporting Standards, it finished the period April-June, with profit of UAH 239 690 000.

Last week, the heads of the local regional administrations were on public and commented situation on uncontrolled territories on rare occasions. Thus, Pavel Zhebrivskyi – the head of Donetsk regional military and civil administration – stated that regional administration intends to purchase medical equipment for medical facilities in the region amounted UAH 100 million. George Tooke – the head of Lugansk regional military and civil administration – made far more resonant statements. He advised people, who is residing in destroyed houses in Lisichansk, not to wait for help from the central government. According to him, they should organize fundraising by themselves. In addition, the governor advocated against the local elections throughout the Luhansk region.

On the territories of DNR and LNR

Last week it became known that, according to local authorities, the number of employees of enterprises has increased by 2 times – up to 57 during the the second quarter 2015 in Luhansk. By March in Lugansk there were 28 operating companies, and by July the number has increased to 57. In total, these companies employ 13 thousand of Luhansk residents. 29 enterprises of Luhansk have restored its activity during last 4 months. However, it is impossible to verify the accuracy of the data.

Meanwhile, you can buy SIM card of operator “Phoenix” in DNR. Only two outlets in Donetsk extend cards of this mobile operator. The first 5000 SIM cards you can purchase only there. You can buy it only submitting a passport and an identification code or birth certificate. In its turn, the mobile operator “MTS Ukraine” warned about the deterioration of communication in several cities of Donbas. The main reason of it – is the lack of power on the equipment, as well as lack of access to a number of facilities in the military zone.

Significant news for the uncontrolled territories was the fact that amendments, which terminate the access to the Single register of powers of attorney and Unified Register of letterheads of notarial documents, came into force. It was the only registry of notarial services, who was operating on the uncontrolled territories. Nowadays, residents of the settlements, which are located in Donetsk, Luhansk regions and controlled by the DNR and LNR, are deprived of the opportunity to formalize a power of attorney, Permission to Relocate Abroad with a Child from the other parent.

On the demarcation line

Donetsk regional military and civil administration together with ATO headquarter examines an issue about reducing the number of checkpoints on the demarcation line. According to officials, the initiative is caused by the desire to make a movement of Donbas residents more comfortable. In addition, it is planned to create another logistic center in Novotoshkovskom in Luhansk region.

Last week Pavel Zhebrivskyi – the head of Donetsk regional military and civil administration – stated that “the volume of smuggling across the demarcation line is enormous.” “Smuggled goods fall beyond the control of the Ukrainian authorities on the territory of Dzerzhinsk and through other channels, and the” roof “of these flows are representatives of almost all security and military structures,” – he said.

Meanwhile, the military proceeded to the creation of a buffer zone in the Shirokino village. According to the headquarter of the ATO, there will be equipped with a permanent observation post of the OSCE mission and the Joint center for control and coordination of the ceasefire. Nevertheless, the fightings are still fixed in this area. Thus, one of a member of the OSCE mission was I injured during the skirmishes. Due to the dotted exacerbation of the situation along the demarcation line, special monitoring mission of the OSCE intends to reduce the number of observers in some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

International situation

Last week Cecile Pouilly – Press Secretary of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – stated that nearly seven thousand people were killed and more than 17,000 were injured during the 15 months of the military conflict. Petro Poroshenko – Ukrainian President – announced his own data related to those, who were killed in Donbas.

In its turn, in the European Parliament in view of the continuing growth of the number of IPDs from Donbas, it was proposed to appoint an ombudsman in order to coordinate internally displaced citizens. This person would monitor the situation of the IDPs in the country.

In the region, both controlled and uncontrolled territories still receive international assistance. Last week it became known that the international medical humanitarian organization “Doctors without Borders” will help seven hospitals in Gorlovka, Yenakiyevo, Starobeshevo, Telmanovo and Novoazovsk, providing more than 900 patients with insulin.

UNDP Project “Economic and social restoration of Donbas”, with funding from the Government of Japan announced a competition “The development of business support infrastructure of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” on Donbas territories, which are under Ukraine control. It was announced by Mustafa Sait-Ametov – the head of this project.

Other states also provide aid. Thus, it became known that Germany intends to provide Ukraine with nearly EUR 1 million to equip the pyrotechnic units of the State Emergency Services for mine clearing in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In total, during the ATO, State Emergency Services unit has discovered and seized more than 38 thousand of ammunition and cleared more than 3.7 hectares of land.

At the same time, last week Rafal Trzaskowski – Deputy Foreign Minister – stated that Poland is not ready to grant refugee status all Ukrainians

The restoring-donbass.com website - is an interactive platform, which was created by the "Restoring Donbas" community initiative of Oleksandr Klymenko. The latest news, blogs and analysis, background information and useful ads for IDPs and Donbas residents are available on the website.