Ukraine has been in a state of actual war for two years. Annexation of the Crimea and Donbas armed conflict caused massive internal migration in Ukraine, – says Olga Budnyk, Director of the Center, in her article for the website of Radio Freedom. According to various data, between 1 and 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in Ukraine. Thus, according to the data of the Ministry of Social Policy, borrowed from the structural units of social protection of regional administrations and Kyiv City State Administration and published on Government Portal on February 1, 1 704 397 persons or 1 346 276 families of Donbass and the Crimea are registered.
Of all registered only 714 867 (53%) of families applied for the appointment of financial aid. Speaking about other benefits provided by law, the numbers are even lower. This is due primarily to the fact that most migrants do not know their rights, and, accordingly, they may not require the support.
The Center for Political Studies and Analysis conducted a large-scale monitoring of the implementation of the Law “On the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons.” As a result, it was found that for most internally displaced persons it is almost impossible to receive the the information about aid for which they may be eligible and the tools to obtain it. The state has no single, concentrated communication on an action plan, events and activities for IDPs, communication with IDPs, with public authorities, with international organizations and others.
From the region to the center and around the circle
Communication between the regional and central authorities to address the problems of internally displaced persons is not effective enough.
According to the study, the main request of the regional and city administrations links to expectations from central government bodies of developing a strategic solution to the problem of IDPs. The regions are hoping for approval of the state program for immigrants as a guidance in their work. Only after getting the guidance they plan to develop their own regional programs.
Today it is important to create a national program that sets specific areas of communication and financial guidance, without which the creation of any programs in the regions would be meaningless.
From the ministry to a stand
The most common channel of communication between the state and the people that were forced to move, oddly enough, is the announcement on the stands in the Department of Social Protection. This way is not only to inform about changes in regulations, but operational posts.
“Possibly any changes occurre in the regulations or any instructions are coming from the Ministry, we go to the Department of Social Protection. They post new information in their office. Announcement is on the stands, on the sites the information is placed at in the “news” – the migrants share their experiences.
This passive model of informing provides that IDPs who are not active Internet users should regularly visit these facilities to be informed on issues that interest them.
Information is spread through volunteer organizations, but also only in the form of announcement. In fact, distribution of information among IDPs is made only thanks to the activity of internally displaced persons themselves, who, visiting the relevant organizations, later share the information received with their acquaintances.
Not only social protection
Also one of the most common and effective means of spreading the information among IDPs is the media. During the investigation it was found that the regional media often turn to the subject of migrants. The latter are often the main characters in the scenes on TV and radio, provide comments printed and Web media.
First of all they are socially active immigrants who already partially adapted and seek to help others. Sometimes they turn on the television to highlight certain issues. The effectiveness of this information is assessed as high considering the analysis of IDPs` applications.
International communication
International organizations conduct active communication with IDPs to ensure their rights and freedoms. In particular, when migrants are speaking of aid in solving some of their problems, they mention such organizations as the UN, WHO, UNICEF, USAID, Red Cross, EU, OSCE and others. A characteristic feature is the integrated nature of aid and that in all studied regions several different international organizations operate simulteniously implementing various projects aimed at communication as well as specific aid, for example, payments and so on.
We see that there is a request for a separate state body or at least responsible division that would specifically deal with problems of migrants and coordinate the activities of all other agencies that deal with IDPs. This body should deal with informing the relocated persons for assistance, develop comprehensive programs, through which their centralized financing would be carried out. We need a systematic approach to working with internally displaced persons: in addition to registration and social aid the question of their integration, employment, housing and others should be developed. Unfortunately, our powers do not think about the creation of such a body, while the number of people requiring urgent aid increases.
Olga Budnyk, Executive Director of the Center for Political Studies and Analysis
