Refugee numbers have hit 78,000

The onset of cold weather has increased the influx of refugees from the Donbas to Dnipropetrovsk region, making their resettlement a highly challenging affair. The region’s leadership discussed this issue with the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks. Deputy head of the regional state administration Hennadii Korban stated: “With the Donbas’s vital infrastructure destroyed, people there freeze and suffer from hunger. They leave those areas, and Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions are the first in line to meet them. Thanks to Dnipropetrovsk region having strong and cohesive leadership team, these processes are relatively well-regulated and directed here,” he said. “Nearly 44,000 refugees are registered in our region. Currently, we are holding a new registration drive for these people, and we already know that the number has increased to 78,000 or so.” The official noted that the system was already working in the region whereby every refugee family was entitled to a monetary compensation. In addition, there are a number of charitable foundations that provide these people with warm clothing, food, and other necessities. However, according to Korban, the region stands ready to receive any help from the international community. Muiznieks said that the main purpose of the meeting was to get official information on the refugees now living in the region firsthand. “My main concern is the refugee situation. I feel it important to learn everything I can about the situation in Luhansk and Donetsk, to talk to people who are living here and better informed about the situation in the east of the country, so I could tell the world about it, not only the Council of Europe, but also the international media and our partners in Europe,” he said. “There are a lot of refugees already, and there will probably be even more of them. It is a real challenge for us to help them in some way. Most importantly, I am pleased to see everyone working together: volunteers and community organizations, local authorities, the central government, and international organizations.”

Experts predict that Dnipropetrovsk region can see as many as 200,000 refugees arriving from the Donbas over the winter.