Councils of Internally Displaced Persons in Dnipropetrovs'k Region: What is it?

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, there are five councils for internally displaced persons currently in operation. This information was provided by the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.

These councils are established to facilitate the interaction between displaced individuals and local self-government bodies. They typically consist of a combination of displaced persons, volunteers, members of the public, businesses, and local authorities. Currently, these councils are active in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske, Novomoskovsk, Solone, and Novopokrovsk. Furthermore, there are plans to expand the list of councils. This information was shared during the forum titled "Integration of Internally Displaced Persons in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Challenges, Solutions, and the Role of the Council for Internally Displaced Persons."

"With the start of full-scale war, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast welcomed the largest number of people from 'hot spots.' We need to create comfortable living conditions for them and, if necessary, assist in finding employment. One of the challenges is to integrate these people into community life," noted Nadiia Zadorozhnia, Deputy Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.

The authorities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast believe that these councils will aid in the integration of individuals who have moved from front-line areas.

"Councils for Internally Displaced Persons cooperate with local self-government bodies, providing them with information about the urgent needs of the displaced population. This includes housing, employment, and all essential requirements. We aim to reach more communities in the region, which will help us respond quickly to issues at the local level," said Oksana Krupii, Regional Coordinator for the "United for Action" program.

In addition to these councils, there is also a regional coordination hub for internally displaced persons operating in the region, which provides assistance to displaced persons in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

"We plan to invite representatives from local communities to meetings. They can report on any issues that couldn't be resolved at the local level. These matters will be brought to the attention of the coordination hub for supporting internally displaced persons and, if necessary, escalated to the national level," said Olena Kryshchen, Director of the Department of Social Welfare of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion by Russia, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has received nearly 400,000 internally displaced persons.