In response to the challenges caused by Russia’s military aggression, the “U-LEAD with Europe” program provided support for 333 Ukrainian communities. Among them are 10 territorial communities from the Lviv region – Skhidnytska, Brodivska, Velikolyubinska, Shchyretska, Rudkivska, Turkivska, Zhuravnenska, Morshynska, Novorozdilska, Radehivska and Skolivska.
Territorial communities with a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants were selected for assistance. Another requirement was the active involvement of the community in accommodating internally displaced persons on their territory. The Regional Office of “U-LEAD with Europe” in the Lviv region informs about this.
“U-LEAD with Europe” delivered goods to the communities of Lviv Oblast that allowed them to solve their primary needs for housing internally displaced persons. Communal institutions, institutions and enterprises in the communities received camping beds, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping bags, water tanks and generators. Such goods help territorial communities to equip additional points for the residence of forcibly displaced people,” said Halyna Khrushchak, head of the regional office of U-LEAD in the Lviv region.
One of the communities of Lviv Oblast that received help from U-LEAD was Rudkiv Territorial Community, which from the first days of the war became a reliable rear for internally displaced persons.
According to official information, 1,994 forced migrants are registered on the territory of the community. 1,132 people live in the private sector, the rest of the IDPs live in the “House of Mercy” and other communal institutions.
“Many of the forced migrants lived in communal institutions of the community, in particular in schools and the Center for the provision of social services. 70 places for IDPs were arranged in the institutions. People are currently living in the “House of Mercy” because educational institutions are preparing for the new school year. Many IDPs from communal institutions moved to the private sector,” said Myroslava Kadykova, head of the social policy department of the Rudkiv City Council.
People living in communal institutions are provided with three meals a day in the community. The created shelters are equipped with accommodation for displaced persons, which have all the necessary amenities. The received generators in the community are kept as a reserve and used in case of problems with the power supply. The beds that were donated from U-LEAD were donated in the community for internally displaced persons.
“Help from international organizations is extremely important. We use the received items not only in communal facilities, but also provide them to displaced people who live in the private sector and needed beds or something else. We made a list of necessary things and helped them, as we had the necessary reserve,” Myroslava Kadykova shared.
They do not forget in the Rudkivska hromad also for leisure time for forced migrants. The community regularly organizes tourist tours, in which a large number of children and adults participate. They also conduct cultural activities that allow IDPs to socialize more quickly in the community.
The Ukraine Program for Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development “U-LEAD with Europe” is jointly funded by the EU and its member states Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia and Slovenia to support Ukraine on its way to strengthening local municipality. U-LEAD promotes transparent, accountable and multi-level governance in Ukraine that meets the needs of citizens and empowers communities.