CARE International’s partnership with HEKS/EPER and the local governments of Mariupol and Odesa to create the "Ya Mariupol" centre represents the best of what we should aim to achieve when we seek to address the wider impacts of conflict induced displacement – a centre that provides an array of shelter support services for survivors of Mariupol, run entirely by survivors of Mariupol.
In the area of Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements there is an idea of the ‘wider impacts’ of losing home, losing community, losing dignity and by extension the broader needs we have to consider when supporting people to receive shelter assistance either on a transitional basis or for the long term. Shelter practitioners often like to say that ‘shelter is more than just four walls and a roof’ and for the displaced people of Ukraine this is certainly the understatement of a lifetime.
In Ukraine, Russia’s invasion has displaced 6.28 million people within the country and 5.5 million people in neighbouring countries while communities living in South and East Ukraine experience continued bombardment and a shifting front line. Of those millions of people who have fled their homes almost all are in need safe shelter in one way or another. For most this means the choice between renting a room (If you have the money), finding hosting with friends or family (If you know people in the region you’ve fled to), camping in a collective centre or keeping moving in the hope of finding something in the next town, city or country you get to.
However even for those that manage to ensure a roof over their (and their families) heads, their struggle to survive continues - whether it be living without a livelihood, connecting to survivor networks or simply dealing with the unimaginable trauma they may have endured to escape a war that has cost the lives of countless fellow civilians.
A local, survivor-led response
CARE responded and continues to respond with a far-reaching humanitarian program that constitutes one of its largest to date. As part of CARE’s program in Ukraine CARE has sought to partner with an array of national and international organisations focusing on supporting and empowering local responses to this conflict by partnering with them to strengthen capacity, scale responses and ensure the affected people receive the best support and technical resources the humanitarian community can provide.
One such project that represents the best of what we should aim to achieve when addressing the shelter needs of recently displaced people and families is the "Ya Mariupol" (or “I am Mariupol” in English) centre in Odesa.
As a result of the now infamous Siege of Mariupol, 95% of the structures of the city have been ruined since the start of the war . This forced the government of Mariupol and tens of thousands of Mariupol residents to flee the city arriving in refuge cities such as Odesa.
With their city in ruins, the civic authorities in exile began a programme, in partnership with the international humanitarian community and hosting municipalities, to open shelter support centres to support the displaced diaspora of Mariupol as they adapt to their new circumstances. Centres run by Mariupol residents, for Mariupol residents, providing comprehensive support services, guidance and humanitarian aid in a range of areas such as basic needs, legal support, as well as health and psychological aid.
Supporting the holistic needs of a displaced community
Thanks to the partnership between CARE, HEKS/EPER and the local governments of Mariupol and Odesa one of the first of these centres was open on the 10th July in Odesa that brought together many of these vital shelter support services including medical consultation, a pharmacy, psychological counselling, legal assistance, a breastfeeding area, child care and an aid distribution point. There are also plans in the works to expand these services including placement services and retraining opportunities to support the attainment of local jobs.
The emotional opening event was attended by the Mayor of Mariupol, government officials, representatives of international and local organisations, as well as journalists from both local and national media with hundreds receiving registration, legal support, medical consultation, and psychological counselling on the first day alone.
Embracing the wider impacts of humanitarian shelter programming
Shelter centres like this, from the symbolic value of their opening events to the hard work of their staff and ongoing support they provide displaced persons and survivors form a crucial and oftentimes foundational component of humanitarian aid. It is only through embracing and acting upon the ‘wider impacts’ of humanitarian shelter and settlement that crucial initiatives like the "Ya Mariupol" centre in Odesa can be made possible.
Following this ‘wider impacts’ approach, CARE will continue to expand it’s shelter and settlements programming to build more holistic support for the conflict affected displaced including access to basic services, winterisation, repairs and cash for shelter - fully integrated with WASH, protection and the other vital sectors that, working together, can support the longer-term recovery.
In Ukraine and the surrounding affected countries, CARE continues to implement one of its largest, widest reaching, multi-sectoral programs to date and in terms of shelter and settlements, CARE will continue to look beyond ‘four walls and a roof’ to ensure that wellbeing, community and dignity are vital ingredients in our efforts to support the conflicted affected people of the war in Ukraine.
Image: Nataliya and her family received support from the Ya Mariupol centre after they were forced to leave Mariupol to escape the bombing
