On May 1, Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; the Chair of the Council on Internally Displaced Persons; and heads of the regional state administration’s departments participated in a meeting on ensuring the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons. The event was chaired by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
During the meeting, participants reviewed a wide range of pressing issues related to ensuring the housing, social, and medical rights of IDPs. In particular, they discussed the risks of potential changes in housing financing and emphasized the importance of maintaining the effectiveness of existing housing programs and the accessibility of state support.
Special attention was paid to the practical aspects of implementing government decisions, specifically regarding veterans’ submission of applications through the Diya e-service, as well as delays in the review of already submitted applications by the relevant commissions.
The participants also discussed next steps for implementing legislative changes aimed at expanding housing options for internally displaced persons.
In the healthcare sector, emphasis was placed on the need to review the list of facilities involved in the nursing care program, taking into account their geographical location, particularly near transit centers. The issue of ensuring equal access for relocated medical facilities to state healthcare programs was also discussed.
In addition, the meeting reviewed initiatives to improve mechanisms for providing subsidized mortgage loans, introduce risk insurance mechanisms when purchasing housing with such loans, and address the issue of compensating for housing and utility costs in areas where displaced persons are temporarily residing.
Following the meeting, participants identified next steps aimed at improving the effectiveness of government support, developing housing programs, and ensuring equal access for citizens to social and medical services.
The Donetsk Regional State Administration will continue to work closely with central executive authorities to improve support mechanisms for internally displaced persons, expand their housing options, and create appropriate conditions for their adaptation and integration into communities.