The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine (UNHCR) have signed a memorandum that will expand cooperation in providing internally displaced persons with affordable housing and compensation for property damaged as a result of hostilities.
The document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba and UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing.
“We are joining forces with UNHCR to find additional effective and long-term solutions for those affected by full-scale war. Our joint work will focus on developing public policy and legislation in the field of housing, as well as creating and supporting programmes for internally displaced persons and those whose homes have been destroyed or damaged by shelling,” Oleksii Kuleba emphasised.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, UNHCR has been actively involved in developing tools, policies and programmes for affordable housing for IDPs and compensation for damaged property.
There are over 4.6 million people in Ukraine who have been forced to leave their homes. More than 300,000 residential properties have been damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression, and around 66,000 have been restored. Ukraine has a programme called eVidnovuvannya, which has enabled more than 121,000 people to receive compensation for repairs, certificates for the purchase of housing and payments for reconstruction on their own land.
In order to better prepare for dialogue with partners on investments in the restoration of destroyed buildings, a study will soon be conducted on the current number of IDPs who need compensation. Its results will make it possible to update the housing needs of people who have left or are leaving dangerous regions and to identify specific requests for the accommodation of people with reduced mobility, older people and people with disabilities.
Within the framework of the signed Memorandum, the parties will expand cooperation and work together in the following areas:
- Developing public policies, strategies, and programmes that address the needs of IDPs living in temporary accommodation, affordable housing, or compensation for damaged property.
- Improving access to public programmes, including restoration, and expanding housing opportunities for the most vulnerable groups.
- Ensuring timely dissemination of information about government and humanitarian programmes in the field of housing restoration, in particular through the Ukraine is Home platform.
- Supporting the development and implementation of legislation and mechanisms aimed at providing access to barrier-free housing, in particular for older people or people with disabilities.
Carolina Lindholm Billing has headed the UNHCR Mission since 2021. Oleksii Kuleba thanked Ms. Lindholm on her last day of work for her dedicated work and personal contribution to helping Ukrainians who have lost their homes or been forced to leave their hometowns.
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