Life-saving assistance to Conflict-affected population in Eastern Ukraine

Project completed

Since 2014, the armed conflict in Ukraine led to massive displacement of civilian population and destruction of infrastructures and private properties. Since February 2015, Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA) has organised five humanitarian convoys on road and rail with water treatment materials and medical supplies to the Donetsk region for the affected population on both sides of the “contact line”, inter alia providing chemicals in sufficient quantity to provide safe drinking water for some 4 mio people.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Health
Water
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
nothemedefined
Primary health care
Water supply
Protection, access & security
12.04.2017 - 30.11.2017
CHF  1’481’200
Background The conflict in Ukraine is now in its fourth year. The lack of a political solution means that insecurity, humanitarian and protection needs will continue in 2017. As of end of 2016, more than 10’000 people have been killed, whereof 2000 civilians and almost 23’000 were injured. Some 800,000 people have to live in unacceptable conditions on both sides along the contact line, where shelling can occur at any moment. The conditions for another 1,7 million people living in non-Government- controlled areas (NGCA) are similarly difficult. Many IDPs returned to NGCA as they could not afford the living costs in governmental controlled area. Illustrative is that the only breadwinners in 38% (GCA) and 60% (NGCA) of conflict affected families are pensioners.
Objectives To contribute to a structured and efficient needs-based humanitarian response, inter alia by providing much needed material assistance to avoid the collapse of health services and facilitate access to drinking water and sanitation services, in government controlled (GCA) and non-government controlled areas (NGCA).
Target groups
  • The whole population of Donetsk region (estimated 3,9 mio people) on both sides of the contact line provided with drinking water from “Vodadonbasa”
  • Thousands of patients in the conflict-affected areas on both sides of the contact line receiving live-saving treatment in their local hospitals
Medium-term outcomes
  • Critical gaps in health services are filled, which gives access to life-saving treatment for conflict-affected populations on both sides of the “contact line” through replacement of medical devices
  • Through the supply of chemical products, sufficient quantity of water of good quality is provided to conflict-affected populations on both sides of the “contact line”.
  • Water utility “Vodadonbasa” will continue to provide drinking water for the whole Donetsk Oblast, a split of the water utility into two GCA/NGCA parts is prevented, reducing the risk of drinking water being used as leverage in the ongoing conflict.
Results

Expected results:  

  • WASH: The Donetsk water services “Vodadonbasa” are able to maintain the provision of drinking water of sufficient quantity and quality covering the needs of the whole population of Donetsk region for the summer period
  • Health: Selected hospitals in conflict-affected area are able to maintain life-saving treatment for several hundred patients


Results from previous phases:  

The chemicals supplied for treating drinking water contributed to ensuring that nearly 4 million people in the Donetsk region, on both sides of the “contact line”, had access to clean drinking water for a year. The support to Donbas water services (“Vodadonbasa”) helped to prevent the splitting of the water utility into two separate authorities for GCA and NGCA and the related negative impact on the affected population.

Medical equipment and medicines were delivered to hospitals in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, e.g. to continue life-saving treatment for several hundred cancer patients and patients with kidney failure.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
  • Schweizerisches Arbeiterhilfswerk


Other partners
Direct measure, financed and implemented by SDC/HA, in cooperation with SCO Kiev, supported by OCHA and (de facto) authorities
Coordination with other projects and actors The Swiss humanitarian transports are coordinated with the Ukrainian government and local partners and aligned with the UN Humanitarian Response Plan 2017. All activities/supplies were proposed by the beneficiary organisations themselves, which know best their current needs.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’481’200 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’525’248 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   4’093’004 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   5’574’000
Project phases

Phase 5 12.04.2017 - 30.11.2017   (Completed)

Phase 4 11.04.2016 - 30.11.2016   (Completed) Phase 3 25.02.2016 - 31.12.2016   (Completed) Phase 2 01.04.2015 - 31.03.2016   (Completed)