UKRAINE 2019 UNHCR PARTICIPATRY ASSESSMENT For the purpose of this Participatory Assessment, UNHCR met with a group of elderly women in the settlement of Chermalyk, located right on the contact line. Chermalyk is still being hit by shelling as well as small arms fire. During the meeting with a group of women in a community center that had been previously repaired by UNHCR, the women raised security as one of their main concerns. Photo: UNHCR In 2018, a local transportation company established a bus connection between the settlement of Berdianske and the city of Mariupol. However, since the price of UAH 12 seemed too high to residents, the bus was cancelled. Therefore, local residents must travel on foot some 1,5 km to the settlement of Sopyne, where transport connection is currently available and costs UAH 7. With the support of a humanitarian organization, travelling from Berdianske to Mariupol became possible, as they have entered into agreement with local transport company to ensure that this route is covered. This project will provide free transportation once a week through September 2019. People displaced from Chyhari are not allowed to visit their houses. They were concerned that the cemetery was shelled in the settlement. They asked for a green corridor at Easter to tend the gravesites of their loved ones. Participants of the discussion in Pervomaiske complained about their lack of access to their homes in Pisky settlement. According to them, the settlement is controlled by the military who do not give permission to IDPs to enter and see their houses. There are currently six to ten people living in Pisky (out of 2,500 residents before the conflict) and the rest are displaced in neighboring settlements or other parts of Ukraine. There is even one family whose husband is in Pisky looking after their house while the wife and children are displaced. She wanted to visit her husband but was refused access. Housing Many people complained about inadequate living conditions as their house/apartment was damaged. Some were assisted by international organizations with basic repairs. Many lost their furniture and household items. They cannot afford to buy new ones. The majority of houses in the settlement of Berdianske remain unrepaired, since the assistance of humanitarian actors was insufficient to cover the needs. Participants stated that they cover their windows with tarpaulin or blankets, which were provided by the military. In 2018, they received roofing 14