Distribution of hygiene and winter kits for 2,000 households in Donetsk and Luhansk regions

The NGO “Responsible Citizens,” in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, has been implementing a program for distributing hygiene and winter kits in 16 settlements of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions near the contact line, targeting 2,000 socially vulnerable families from October 2016 to March 2017. The population in these areas has a very low income level. Working-age individuals do not have access to the labor market or stable sources of income. In most cases, the residents of these areas live solely on social benefits.

Private entrepreneurs who sell essential goods artificially inflate prices because the local population lacks alternative sources to purchase these products.

According to research conducted, the main expense categories for 73% of the population in frontline areas are food (70-84% of total expenses) and medications (13-19% of total expenses). Expenditures on hygiene products account for 3-5% of total expenses for most of the population. There have been cases where people did not use hygiene products at all because they could not afford them.

The inability to maintain hygiene standards due to insufficient access to such goods can lead to individual illnesses and fatalities, as well as mass epidemics.

Reasons for Project Implementation

Currently, the target humanitarian aid is primarily needed by residents of rural areas living near the front line.

The population in these zones is effectively isolated and lacks access to food and non-food products, adequate medical care, and medications. Bus connections between frontline villages and nearby cities have been significantly reduced or completely discontinued over the past few years.

Expected Outcomes from Project Implementation

Providing hygiene kits will allow individuals to adhere to sanitary and hygienic standards and reduce the risk of epidemics, which are common in the spring and can have unpredictable negative consequences for both individuals and society as a whole.

Furthermore, providing hygiene kits will enable people to spend their saved funds on other urgent needs not covered by humanitarian assistance (food, medications, repairs of destroyed housing, clothing, children’s education, etc.).