The regional forum “Integration of Displaced Persons in Volynska Oblast: Problems, Solutions, and the Role of the IDP Council” was held to discuss means of enhancing housing conditions, job opportunities, social support, and the adaptation of displaced persons to new communities. The event was organized under the United Voices in Action program. The Volynska Oblast has welcomed over 77,000 internally displaced persons since the onset of the full-scale invasion, with about 700,000 Ukrainians passing through the Oblast on their way to the border. Deputy Chairman of the Oblast Council, Hryhoriy Pustovit, pointed out that the region has previously faced such challenges and has experience in assisting people seeking shelter from conflict.

Hryhoriy Pustovit

Lutsk became one of the pioneering cities in Ukraine where displaced persons self-organized in 2014, leading to the creation of the public organization “Displaced Persons of Crimea and Donbas. It was a positive example of self-organization and unity improving the effectiveness of problem-solving efforts.

The primary aim of the forum, which united representatives of local authorities, businesses, communities, and charitable organizations, is to develop effective approaches for integration and overcoming the challenges faced by IDPs. The IDP Council, which has already demonstrated positive results in other regions of the country, could become a platform for strengthening such cooperation, said Iryna Pylypenko, regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in the Volynska Oblast:

Iryna Pylypenko

We are pleased with the meeting because it brought together like-minded people: IDPs, government officials, charity foundations, and relocated businesses. We hope that the IDP Council will unite all these people to address the daily challenges of internally displaced persons.

Oksana Hobod, director of the Social Protection Department of the Volynska Oblast State Administration, also announced the development of a reintegration plan for IDPs. After all, the Oblast is still hosting internally displaced persons. As of April 1, 56,000 IDPs were registered in the Volynska Oblast. The authorities are putting in a lot of effort to ensure that the new residents receive adequate support:

Oksana Hobod

The geography of IDPs is unchanged. These are primarily the Khersonska, Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Odeska oblasts. There are fewer residents of the Kharkivska Oblast. In total, last year, we paid UAH 805 million from the state budget to support internally displaced people.

Among the important priorities discussed were employment, the organization of Collective Centers for IDP accommodation, the creation of a mutual support center for internally displaced persons, and legal assistance.

The forum concluded with the signing of a Resolution to the authorities to establish an advisory body, the IDP Council, in the Lutsk community.