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Drinking Water for the People of Eastern Ukraine

Project completed
A lorry in front of a local branch of Voda Donbas water company in Krasnoarmiysk. People are standing around the vehicle.
Humanitarian convoys from Switzerland bring relief supplies to more than three million people on both sides of the contact line in Ukraine. © FDFA/SDC © EDA

The ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine continues to claim victims and cause untold damage. Vital goods like water are in increasingly short supply.The SDC is the only state actor organising humanitarian convoys which cross the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Water
Health
Human rights
nothemedefined
Material relief assistance
Drinking water and basic sanitation (WASH) (til 2016)
Primary health care
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Water diplomacy and security
Health systems strengthening
11.04.2016 - 30.11.2016
 CHF  1’156’000
Background

The lack of a political solution means that insecurity, humanitarian and protection needs will continue in 2016. As of end of March 2016, according to UN 9,208 people have been killed and over 21,000 injured, including civilians, military personnel and members of armed groups. Some 800,000 people live in unacceptable conditions on both sides along the contact line. The conditions for some other 2.1 million people living in non-Government- controlled areas (NGCA) are similarly difficult, with little freedom of movement and access to basic services, as well as lack of rule of law and guarantees for human rights protection.

Objectives

To contribute to the improvement of the health of the civil population in Donetsk Oblast.
Target groups
  • The population of Donetsk Oblast (estimated 3’700’000 people) on both sides of the contact line provided with safe drinking water by Vodadonbasa.
  • Several hundred chronically ill people in the conflict-affected areas on both sides of the contact-line receiving live-saving treatment in their local hospitals
Medium-term outcomes
  • Contribute to the provision of access for conflict-affected populations on both sides of the contact line to sufficient quality of water to avoid water-borne diseases.
  • Fill critical gaps in health services and ensure access to life-saving treatment for conflict-affected populations on both sides of the contact line.
  • Water utility “Vodadonbasa” will continue to provide drinking water for the whole Donetsk Oblast and a split of the water system into two parts GCA/NGCA, with the risk of drinking water being used as leverage in the ongoing conflict will be prevented.
Results

Expected results:  

  • PA 3/ WASH: The Donbas water services “Vodadonbasa” are able to maintain the provision of drinking water of sufficient quantity and quality covering the needs of the whole population of Donetsk District at least for the summer period (end of August)
  • PA 4/ Health: Selected hospitals in conflict-affected area are able to maintain life-saving treatment for several hundred chronically ill patients


Results from previous phases:  

The chemicals supplied for treating drinking water contributed to ensuring that more than 3 million people in the Donetsk region, on both sides of the contact line, had access to safe drinking water for several months. The support to Donbas water services helped to prevent the splitting of the water utility into two separate authorities for GCA and NGCA and the related negative impact on the affected population.

Thanks to the medical equipment and medicines that were delivered to hospitals in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk it was possible to continue life-saving treatment for several hundred cancer patients and patients with kidney failure during several months.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
  • Schweizerisches Arbeiterhilfswerk


Other partners

UN Agencies, ICRC, Government line agencies, De Facto authorities NGCA etc.
Coordination with other projects and actors

OCHA coordinates disaster response operations; the activities of SDC are in compliance with the HRP.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’156’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’150’424 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   3’148’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   4’304’000
Project phases Phase 5 12.04.2017 - 30.11.2017   (Completed)

Phase 4 11.04.2016 - 30.11.2016   (Completed)

Phase 3 25.02.2016 - 31.12.2016   (Completed) Phase 2 01.04.2015 - 31.03.2016   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
    EMERGENCY RESPONSE
    HEALTH
    WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    HEALTH
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Basic drinking water supply and basic sanitation
    Material relief assistance and services
    Basic health care
    Water sector policy and administrative management
    Human rights
    Health policy and administrative management
    Cross-cutting topics Crisis prevention
    Human rights
    The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    SDC direct implementation
    SDC administrative costs
    Project number

    7F09279

Voda Dombass, a water company operating in the Donetsk region, was no longer able to distribute drinking water to communities living on either side of the line of contact. The conflict had prevented shipments of water purification chemicals reaching the factory. The number of Hepatitis A infections in the region rose considerably due to the consumption of unsafe water.

Humanitarian Convoys from Switzerland

Following a request for aid, in 2015 Switzerland dispatched three humanitarian convoys carrying the necessary water treatment products. Lorries carrying several tonnes of chemicals successfully crossed the line of contact unhindered. The shipments also contained medical supplies and medication destined for hospitals across the region.

Switzerland became the first and only third state to deliver aid on this scale to communities living on either side of the line of contact. Over three million people benefited from Swiss aid and there was a considerable fall in the number of illnesses caused by the consumption of unsafe water. Another benefit was that these operations bolstered the position of Voda Dombass as a public service provider.

 

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Last update 14.05.2020