Restoration of essential WASH infrastructure

The Russian military attack on Ukraine started on 24^th of February 2022. While currently main hostilities concentrate to the Eastern areas of Ukraine, the Northern occupied territories have been largely re-taken by Ukrainian forces. As a result of hostilities and occupation until end of March, a substantial part of essential water supply and sewage infrastructure is destroyed. Shocks through detonations, shelling, and moving tanks in the streets affected in particular sewage collectors, drinking water supply networks, and other underground-infrastructure such as pumping- and lifting stations leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to safe water supply and sewage removal in their houses.

The project area of concern is the Newly Accessible Area in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblast in North-East of Ukraine where many cities are heavily affected. The probability of a new major attack on these areas is estimated to be rather low as the major area where hostilities take place is concentrated in Eastern Ukraine.

• City councils / Vodakanals of Sumy and Chernihiv Oblast
• Approximately eight war-affected municipalities in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts

• Urban water institutions of the two cities of Sumy and Chernihiv have improved resilience to maintain their water infrastructure
• Existing water supply systems in small cities and villages across Sumy and Chernihiv Oblasts can rely on restored water and sanitation infrastructure

Expected results:  

• Supply of equipment and machinery for network failure detection and reparation works to Vodakanals within Chernihiv and Sumy Oblast, including the thorough training on the modern equipment. Minor emergency reparation works can be funded through the project
• Restoration of damaged WASH infrastructure in rural municipalities. Capacity building for the technical departments focussing on project identification, design, tendering and supervision of the execution works

Results from previous phases:   An initial assessment of the destruction and needs took place in the beginning of May 2022 by an expert team of the Swiss Embassy HA Unit. Most important needs were identified within water and sewage networks which have been destroyed to a large extent.

Phase 1 20.06.2022 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)