In 2025, advocacy efforts of the Coordination Council on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Uzhhorodska hromada resulted in amendments to several municipal social protection programmes. In particular, updates were introduced to the “Good Deed” programme, the programme providing medicines for people with rare (orphan) diseases, as well as the procedure for delivering the “Social Taxi” transport service.
The results of the Council’s work and current issues related to supporting internally displaced women and men were recently discussed during a meeting of the Coordination Council on IDPs held in Uzhhorod. The meeting was attended by Uzhhorod Deputy Mayor Mariia Badyda and City Council Secretary Ihor Chornii.
Deputy Chair of the Coordination Council on IDP Issues, Anzhela Babkina, reported that five open meetings were held in a hybrid format throughout 2025.
“Throughout 2025, our Coordination Council worked consistently across several areas. One of the key priorities was advocating for amendments to Uzhhorod’s municipal programmes to ensure that IDPs are not left outside the hromada’s social support system,” said Anzhela Babkina.
As a result of this work, IDPs were included in several municipal programmes, namely:
- the Programme for Providing Residents of Uzhhorod who suffer from rare (orphan) diseases with medicines and specialised dietary food products for 2024–2026;
- the “Kind Deed” Programme for Strengthening Social Protection of Uzhhorod Residents for 2024–2026, which enables internally displaced persons from vulnerable groups to receive financial assistance;
- the “Uzhhorod Resident Card” programme, which provides free travel on municipal transport for eligible categories of hromada residents, including IDPs;
- as well as the “Social Taxi” transport service.
The IDP Council emphasised that these changes are extremely important for supporting the integration of internally displaced people into the hromada.
During the meeting, representatives of state institutions also provided updates on key social support issues. In particular, participants discussed the appointment and payment of living assistance for IDPs, the reasons for possible pension payment delays related to verification procedures, as well as programmes implemented by the State Employment Service aimed at supporting internally displaced women and men in the hromada.
The Coordination Council on IDPs in Uzhhorod continues its work to strengthen social protection measures and support the integration of internally displaced people into the local hromada.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.