HIGHLIGHTS
Insecurity along the contact line persists as conflict in Ukraine approaches third year
USAID/OFDA staff assess partner activities in Mariupol
The U.S. Government (USG) announces more than $28 million in new humanitarian funding in response to the Ukraine complex emergency
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Relief agencies report continued insecurity along the contact line between governmentcontrolled areas (GCAs) and non-government-controlled areas (NGCAs) two years after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and more than one year after the signing of an official ceasefire agreement in the city of Minsk, Belarus. According to the UN, conflict in Ukraine has resulted in nearly 9,350 deaths and more than 21,400 injuries between April 2014 and April 2016.
In March, the Government of Ukraine (GoU) began suspending social payments and pensions to internally displaced persons (IDPs) pending verification of their displaced status. The UN reports that payment suspensions could impact up to 600,000 IDPs across five oblasts, and humanitarian organizations continue to advocate for the GoU to de-link IDP social payments from pension benefits.
During a visit to Ukraine in mid-May, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State/PRM Nancy Izzo Jackson and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Robert Jenkins announced more than $28 million in new USG humanitarian funding for the Ukraine response. The total includes nearly $12 million from USAID/OFDA to support UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations providing shelter and relief commodities, livelihoods and protection support, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance to conflictaffected populations. In addition, USAID/FFP is providing $5 million in FY 2016 funding to the UN World Food Program (WFP) to support emergency food operations. State/PRM is also providing more than $11.4 million in new funding to increase access to health care services, provide resources to assist in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, and support the provision of blankets, food, hygiene items, medical supplies, and shelter materials to vulnerable populations.