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‘Crossing the contact line’ report, November 2020

17 грудня 2020

Right to Protection CF prepared a monthly report «Crossing The Contact Line» for November 2020. It is based on the data collected during the monitoring of the situation at the Entry-Exit Checkpoints (EECPs).

• After the resumption of full operation of the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP on November 10, the number of crossings of the contact line increased by 35% in November compared to October (29184 and 21373, respectively), but at the same time it is only 2.25% of 1.2 millions of people who crossed the line of contact in November 2019. Most of the crossings were made at the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP (95%), and only 5% at the Novotroitske EECP.

• In November 2020, about 1,084 people crossed the contact line towards the Government-Controlled Areas (GCA) of Ukraine and 494 people towards the Non-Government Controlled Areas (NGCA) of Ukraine in the Donetsk region through the Novotroitskoye checkpoint, which remains the only checkpoint in the Donetsk region where there is a possibility of crossing the agreed lists of persons. The crossing takes place every Monday and Friday. The conditions are the same as in the previous month: in order to obtain a permit to enter or leave the NGCA, a person is required to be on the special list.

• At the beginning of November, crossing the contact line was possible only on the basis of a special permit from the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command for people with registration at the place of residence in the NGCA of Luhansk region and who have proven reasons to cross. On November 10, the JFO Command issued an order to lift these restrictions and resume the work of the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP. During this month, 13,981 people crossed the contact line in the direction of the Government-Controlled Areas of Ukraine, and 13,595 people in the direction of the Non-Government Controlled Areas of Ukraine.

• 65% of citizens had difficulty installing the “Home” app (previously named “Act. Home”, an app developed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for providing the ability to self-isolate at home - ed.n.). Among the problems that were voiced were the long app installation time, the lack of an Internet connection on the EECPs or communication problems, as well as confirmation SMS message was not sent to them.

• According to the survey, people's opinions and concerns about the situation around the coronavirus pandemic were different, as 55% of citizens do not feel to be concerned much about COVID-19, and 43% have questions about the safety during the crossing of the contact line. According to the data, 65% of respondents believe that the distance in the queue at the Entry-Exit Checkpoints is quite short, another 42% said that they think that other people around are wearing masks incorrectly, and another 7% have questions about the safety of the public transport.

• About 61% of people cross the line of contact because of the relatives who live in the GCA and NGCA of Ukraine. One third of the citizens do so due to their needs to withdraw funds and / or problems with their pensions / social benefits.

For more information, download the report of the Right to Protection CF by clicking the one of links below of the language of Your preference:

English

Ukrainian

More data is available on the Eastern Ukraine Checkpoint Monitoring Online Dashboard on UNHCR Ukraine website.

The report contains information collected by the Right to Protection CF as part of a survey, conducted regularly since June 2017. Entry-Exit Checkpoints are located in Donetsk (Mayorske, Maryinka, Hnutove and Novotroitske) and Luhansk (Stanytsia Luhanska) regions. The survey is part of the monitoring of violations of the rights of the population affected by the conflict and is conducted within the project «Advocacy, Protection and Legal Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine», implemented by the Right to Protection CF with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The purpose of this survey is to find out the reasons, conditions and risks that accompany people who cross the line of contact through the EECPs. The information collected during the survey will help identify needs, gaps and trends, as well as provide an evidence base for advocacy activities.