Ukraine
Problem statement
An armed conflict erupted throughout Donbass region in the aftermath of the so-called ‘’Euromadian revolution’’ in 2014 and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. In spite of several ceasefires and the Minsk agreements with attempts to provide a peaceful resolution to the conflict, hostilities continue to pose an immediate threat to human security. Approximately 7,000 square kilometers were suspected to be contaminated by mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war in Donbass region only, while Ukraine still suffers from contamination in other parts dating back from both world wars. With the start of the active armed conflict in February 2022 across the whole Ukraine, the scope of mine contamination has greatly increased, as did the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and the number of civilian casualties.
According to current OHCHR data, the recent military actions have caused at least 30,010 civilian casualties, including at least 10,378 killed – including 579 children – and at least 19,632 injured. More than 80 % of all casualties (injured or killed) since 24 February 2022 have been recorded in areas controlled by the Ukrainian Government. Over 14.6 million people – about 40 % of the Ukrainian population living in Ukraine – will need humanitarian assistance in 2024, including IDPs. The most peril thematic areas remain provision of basic services, victims’ assistance, housing, food security and non-food items, mental health and psychosocial support.
The aftermath of the ongoing military actions is the widespread deployment of cluster munitions in densely populated areas in Ukraine, unmarked placement of minefields, urban mine contamination, with improvised explosive device, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance across the whole Ukraine According to the last information available by National Mine Action Authority, approximately 175,000 square kilometres (7,000 before February 2022) of land in Ukraine is suspected to be contaminated with either cluster munitions, landmines or other explosive remnants of war.
In order to support implementation of activities, ITF has in September 2023 re-established its Representative Office in Ukraine.
What we do
Clearance
In 2023, ITF has partnered up with Safe Path Group (SPG), INGO in Ukraine, to address the area of mine clearance in Ukraine. The objective is to implement non-technical survey and technical survey activities in Kharkiv. Activities will continue also in 2024.
Victim Assistance
Since 2014 until end of July 2019, ITF has enabled psychosocial rehabilitation for 465 children from Donbass region in Ukraine, who were severely traumatized due to war atrocities, have lost their relatives or friends and whose families are dealing with very tough economic circumstances. ITF has also successfully provided physical rehabilitation for a 15-year-old girl who was severly wounded and lost her left leg during the conflict in Ukraine. Six phases of rehabilitation were successfully completed in the period of 2015-2022 at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Slovenia (URI – Soča). Furthermore, ITF also enabled the rehabilitation of a Ukrainian internally displaced boy in Budapest.
In 2022, ITF provided psychosocial rehabilitation for 56 Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia, as a urgent response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. In addition, food and sanitary aid packages have been delivered to more than 3,000 individuals in Slavyansk, Mariupol, Bakhmut (Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia, and Kyiv, which are all regions most affected by the armed conflict.
In 2023 ITF has started with implementation of mental health and psychosocial assistance in Izmail and Kherson, with the goal to develop a school and community-based model of MHPSA accessible to all children and their parents in the region. To achieve that, the project aims to mobilize and build capacities of those who can reach a critical number of children in distress, as well as their parents.
In cooperation with URI-Soča in 2023-2024, ITF continues to provide medical rehabilitation and support for victims, aiming for their successful reintegration into society.
Capacity Building
National rehabilitation capacities in Ukraine are limited and cannot address the needs presented with the aftermath of armed conflict in Ukraine. ITF always puts emphasis on capacity building and is currently working on equipping the Ukrainian Research Institute for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation in Kharkov.
As response to ongoing hostilities in Ukraine in 2023 and 2024, ITF and URI-Soča continue to offer training programs for Ukrainian medical personnel in order to enhance their local capacities and national ownership.
For more information on ITF’s past activities in Ukraine, we welcome you to consult our Annual Reports, while for the plans in the forthcoming year please consider our Portfolio of Projects.