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Staryi Saltiv is an hour’s drive from Kharkiv, and was a popular holiday destination before the war. However, through 2022 regular shelling decimated the settlement’s infrastructure damaging all administrative buildings. Around one thousand people remained, despite the volatile context, but now face challenges with accessing services. At the beginning of March, IOM provided two heated and insulated modular constructions that will accommodate critical services, including postal services, police, and a humanitarian hub run by the local authorities. “In the future, when the large-scale reconstruction of the village begins, these premises will be used by construction workers who will be rebuilding Staryi Saltiv," says the head of local administration, Anton Palei.
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Enhancing resilience of Ukrainian business amidst war
Helping small businesses to overcome the war impact supports job retention and creation, promotes local economic recovery, and aids the government's national efforts to rebuild the country's economy. In March, IOM announced a grant call for small and micro-businesses in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Poltava regions, with the goal of supporting 30 enterprises. Priority will be given to war-affected, damaged, and displaced businesses, as well as those that provide critical goods or services, employ vulnerable people, and have a positive social impact on their community.
Since May 2022, over 300 enterprises have been assisted with financial support and a further 1,000 micro- and small businesses are in the application stage and being assessed. Throughout 2023 IOM will provide grants up to €4,500 to 270 micro-enterprises, and up to €20,000 to 100 small enterprises.
In addition to business grants, IOM is partnering with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and the Kyiv School of Economics to provide consultations for 300 enterprises on mitigating the impact of the war and accessing new markets.
Read stories of successful grants applicants.
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Enabling uninterrupted basic services to Chernihiv residents
IOM continues to rebuild critical infrastructure and support the resumption of reliable power generation in Ukraine. Over the past two weeks, IOM completed the installation of a cogenerator unit for the Chernihiv vodokanal. This new technology will produce electricity to operate and maintain the main pumping station, using natural gas at first and later biogas obtained during the operation of sewage treatment plants. In times of emergency power outages, the cogeneration unit will serve as a reliable backup source of power for critical infrastructure facilities, supporting the vodokanal to continue to provide reliable water to 285,000 residents.
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National Toll-Free 527 Hotline scales up its work
IOM has increased the capacity of the National Toll-Free Counter-Trafficking and Migrant Advice Hotline "527", adding additional staff members and extending opening hours. The Hotline has expanded to meet additional demand, providing 30,526 consultations in response to 7,326 calls in 2023 alone. The Hotline has continued working without interruption since February 2022, providing information on safe migration and policies, border crossing, obtaining refugee and asylum seeker status, the work of diplomatic institutions, assistance available in different countries, and protection against fraudsters and criminals.
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Providing assistance to collective centres
CCCM interventions continue to enhance the capacities of authorities and local community leaders to assist displaced persons in collective centres. This fortnight, IOM provided cash assistance to 30 collective centers in Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions that are hosting a large number of displaced people, to help cover utilities that increased during the cold period, conduct light maintenance works, procure fuel and other necessary items. Over the past two weeks, IOM also distributed 1,768 items amongst 111 collective centers in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions, reaching 10,949 IDPs. Items distributed include beds, partitions, solid fuel and electric heaters, gas and electric stoves, freezers, fridges, microwaves, kettles, multi-purpose cookers, pans, hairdryers, laundry detergent, toilet cleaners, garbage containers, bedside tables, wardrobes, irons and child-friendly space kits.
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