REPORT ON RESULTS OF MONITORING VISIT OF UKRAINIAN HELSINKI HUMAN RIGHTS UNION

The visit aimed to collect information on the availability of humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups. Meetings were held with representatives of civil organizations, local authorities, and volunteers who coordinate the distribution of humanitarian aid. During the visit, it was reported that there are problems with inventory accounting and elimination of buildings located on the frontier line. Additionally, difficulties in obtaining social payments for residents of Zhovanka village, situated in the liberated territory of Ukraine, were identified. Several organizations, including People in Need, UNDP, Caritas, Shelter, World Food Programme, Mercy Corps, and International Organization for Migration, were found to be operating in the "grey zone." The respondents noted that there is an excessive supply of humanitarian aid in this area, while districts remote from the separation line are often overlooked. The distribution of humanitarian aid was found to be uneven, with some areas receiving more aid than others. Volunteers from the Civil Organization "SOS-Kramatorsk" reported that they mostly work as partners with international organizations, such as UNICEF and UNHCR. They stated that the aid is often brought to places known to the volunteers, but not to villages that are less well-known, which are in greater need of assistance. The volunteers also noted that there is a problem with the logistics of aid distribution, with large cities often receiving excess aid. The respondents also reported that there are issues with the work of organizations in the "grey zone," with some organizations facing threats and moral pressure from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The volunteers from "SOS-Kramatorsk" reported that they have not experienced any threats related to their activity, but they do face challenges in their work, including the absence of working places for young people and middle-aged individuals. The monitoring visit also revealed that there are problems with the registration of IDPs, with some individuals registered with multiple organizations and charitable foundations. This has led to a situation where some individuals are taking advantage of the aid system, exchanging humanitarian aid for other items or selling it. The volunteers from "SOS-Kramatorsk" reported that they have noticed this phenomenon, with some individuals exchanging certificates for food products for other items. The storage of the CO "SOS-Kramatorsk" was found to be small and inconvenient, with three volunteers working there. The volunteers reported that they have received less aid recently, but they continue to distribute it according to their own lists. The IDPs who visited the storage during the monitoring visit were mostly asking for children's items, such as clothes and diapers. The monitoring visit also included a visit to the CO "Country for Free People," which hosts a point of humanitarian aid distribution and a compact settlement of IDPs. The organization reported that they have received a lot of aid at the beginning of the liberation of the city from occupation, but there has been a considerable reduction in recent times. The major issue facing the organization is the lack of aid, which is affecting the IDPs who are living in the settlement.