Situational overview: The security situation in eastern Ukraine progressively deteriorated, with four civilian fatalities recorded during January.
Protection concerns: Freezing temperatures winter conditions;
UNHCR continued implementation of its winter assistance plan.
Assistance provided: In January, UNHCR provided winterization, non-food items (NFIs), and shelter assistance to more than 6,600 people.
KEY INDICATORS
785 IDPs and conflict-affected persons received legal assistance from UNHCR partners in 2018.
1,400 households in the non-government controlled area of Donetsk region received 4,211 tonnes of coal from UNHCR in 2018.
800 households in government-controlled areas received winter cash assistance in 2018.
FUNDING (AS OF 20 FEBRUARY)
USD 31.1 M requested for Ukraine
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP)* AND CONFLICT-AFFECTED PERSONS
1.8 million
ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM UKRAINE
Update on Achievements
Operational Context
During January, ceasefire violations progressively increased despite the parties to the conflict recommitting to the ceasefire on 27 December. On 21 January, small arms fire hit a bus during daylight hours at a crossing point on the line of contact at Olenivka (NGCA) leading to civilian casualties, including one fatality. Although there are no indications that the attack represents a trend, there is nonetheless an increased risk to civilians and humanitarian staff travelling across the line of contact. To date, OSCE reports 14 civilian casualties since the start of the year, including four fatalities. In January, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) recorded some 936,200 crossings of the line of contact. UNHCR completed the delivery of winterization materials to the SBGS for the winterization of five checkpoints on the GCA side of the line of contact. UNOCHA’s Humanitarian Bulletin provides an overview of the humanitarian situation.