May 8, 2024
News
As the war in Ukraine progresses, the need for accommodation for internally displaced people in relatively safe western part of the country remains crucial. Many displaced individuals can not resolve their housing situation because of lacking money or free place. In the Zakarpattia region alone, over 170,000 displaced people are officially registered. To assist these people, Caritas Czech Republic is participating in the establishment of new housing for 180 displaced persons in Transcarpathia.
The dormitory of the Berehove vocational school will be transformed into a modern 4-story collective centre
The new housing for displaced persons will be created based on the old dormitory of the Berehove vocational school. This 4-story building with a total area of 1500 square meters had been vacant for several years, but now it could serve as shelter to those in need. But first the renovations and equipping the premises with necessary furniture have to be completed.
"In recent years, the building has not been used, but due to the war and the need for housing for internally displaced people, we have started with renovations,“ says Vasyl Demyanchuk, Deputy Head of the Transcarpathia regional council, who appreciates the cooperation with Caritas Czech Republic and the UN Refugee Agency who will jointly help reconstruct the collective centre.
Caritas Czech Republic and UNHCR will renovate and equip the centreby the end of this year so that up to 180 people can move in by 2025.
"Caritas Czech Republic will be responsible for the renovation work in the centre, and we also plan to furnish the premises with furniture and necessary equipment. This way, we can provide people who have lost their homes because of the war with social housing for the next year," says Nataliia Mackova, Acting Country Director at Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine.
Vira Shelest, Head of the UN Refugee Agency in Transcarpathia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, also comments on the importance of providing safe and dignified accommodation for displaced people. "It is very important to ensure housing for internally displaced people in Ukraine, especially for the most vulnerable people. Therefore, we are pleased to work with reliable partners such as Caritas Czech Republic, and to provide building materials to refurbish this building," she notes.
The community centre will help integrate displaced people into the community
In addition to providing housing, the renovated dormitory of the Berehove vocational school will give people the opportunity to socialise and integrate into the life of the local community. The ground floor of the building is planned to become a community centre where both displaced people and local residents can learn, develop new skills, discuss and engage in initiatives to improve life in the city. A similar initiative supported by UNHCR was performed in Mukacheve, and this experience can be repeated in Berehove.
"We think this place is perfect for helping displaced people. It is not just about giving them a place to live, but also about helping them find jobs, learn new skills, and feel at home in the new host community. That is why setting up a community centre, training centre, and a space for people to talk about community issues here is a very promising idea," shares Vira Shelest her opinion.
Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has been facing severe attacks and casualties. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes in the areas of fighing and relocate to other regions of Ukraine or abroad. In the east of the country, some cities have been completely destroyed due to massive shelling.
Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine is assisting people affected by the war. We provide shelter to internally displaced persons in modular houses in Western Ukraine, improve living conditions in collective sites, and address the urgent needs of residents in frontline and de-occupied communities in Southern Ukraine.
During 2023, Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine conducted renovations in 8 dormitories in Zakarpattia where displaced people from the combat zone reside. This year, we will continue to improve living conditions for internally displaced persons and expand this project to 2 more regions in Western Ukraine - Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
