Lviv – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is scaling up support to repair housing and provide longer-term solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lviv Region, western Ukraine.  

With this assistance, IOM will contribute to a new governmental programme that envisages to repair 25 facilities in 20 communities in the region.  

“We will focus on providing new housing for IDPs with everything they need, and participate in the reconstruction of existing premises,” said Manfred Profazi, IOM Regional Director for Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia on 14 September at the meeting with the Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi. 

With support from IOM, capital repairs will be carried out in four vocational, technical and higher education institutions: Stryi Higher Vocational College, Chervonohrad Mining and Economic College, Drohobytch State Pedagogical University, Novorozdil Vocational Lyceum.After the reconstruction, these facilities will be able to accommodate up to 1,100 displaced people. 

“We are currently working in three directions to provide displaced people with alternative places to live.: We will repair premises that have not been used for a long time and their convert them into housing. We will also build new facilities, such as modular houses, and purchase ready-made housing," said Maksym Kozytskyi. 

The need to create additional places to accommodate people is even more critical with the coming winter and the unsuitability of some premises for living in cold weather conditions. Some dormitories were only partially used and entire floors were vacant. For years, these dormitories were in disrepair since there was enough space to accommodate students. IOM will support the repair of toilets and showers on these floors, as well as wall and floor decoration, and provision of heating systems so that institutions can equip these rooms to host displaced persons. 

"Our organization will continue to monitor the needs of the population in Lviv region and other regions, providing financial or material assistance and services where they are most needed,” said Profazi during the meeting. “IOM will also contribute to the economic adaptation and recovery of micro and small enterprises in Ukraine."  

IOM provides a range of specialized and general support for millions of vulnerable people affected by war who are unable to provide for themselves or care for themselves. In the region, IOM implements a programme of grant support for the recovery of businesses affected by military actions; ensures distribution of humanitarian aid to displaced persons through partner NGOs, local and regional authorities, and humanitarian aid points; deploys medical mobile teams; and provides psychosocial assistance. During almost seven months of the war, IOM’s assistance reached almost 170,000 people in Lviv Region. 

For more information, please contact Varvara Zhluktenko, vzhluktenko@iom.int, +38 067 447 97 92