Today, a working meeting was held between the Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Shevchenko, and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, led by the Head of the Eastern Office of the UN OCHA, Alhadi Albaridi.
During the meeting, representatives of the OCHA presented the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2026 in the Donetsk region. The main humanitarian challenges in the region, the current needs of the civilian population, and the priority areas of support for communities most affected by the consequences of hostilities were outlined.
The participants paid particular attention to issues of rapid response to the escalating security situation, support for displaced persons, preparation for the winter period, and provision of housing, water supply, and social services to the population.
"The humanitarian and security situations in Donetsk Oblast remain challenging. The presented Plan reflects the UN's intentions for further work in the region and takes into account the need to respond quickly to changes in the situation — new shelling, forced displacement of people, and the needs of the heating and winter periods," said Oleksandr Shevchenko.
The parties also discussed their immediate plans and developed additions and proposals to the planned measures, which will strengthen coordination at the regional and community levels and ensure more targeted assistance to the population.
Oleksandr Shevchenko thanked the representatives of the UNHCR for their reliable partnership, constant interaction, and practical assistance to the residents of Donetsk region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and expanding the humanitarian presence of international organizations in the region.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue working together to finalize priorities for 2026 and to maintain close coordination in order to respond promptly to security and humanitarian challenges in Donetsk region.