UKRAINE 2019 UNHCR PARTICIPATRY ASSESSMENT necessary vitamins/specialized drugs for opportunistic diseases. When faced with unexpected health problems requiring large financial resources, IDPs say they generally cannot access assistance from humanitarian and charitable organizations, which predominantly operate closer to the contact line. Child protection Overall, IDP children and teenagers interviewed in focus groups say they do not feel integrated for financial and social reasons. Many say they experience psychological distress. Five children (including a Roma IDP and a Crimean Tatar IDP) revealed situations of bullying based on the fact of displacement or belonging to an ethnic minority. Many IDPs mentioned that poor housing conditions prevent children from socializing with their peers. Teenagers highlighted that their relatives and friends remain in NGCA. In host communities, they managed to find only a few friends who understand their life circumstances. Host communities do not encourage successes of IDP children and fail to highlight them in local media. Bullying in schools based on the fact of displacement (mentioned in five different groups) is worse when children reside in a collective center (noted by mothers in Odesa and in discussions with children) or when children belong to an ethnic minority (Roma, Crimean Tatars). “Everyone asks me how I live – in challenging living conditions and sometimes even lacking food. They ask why I have not returned. Answering these questions makes me stronger. I saw war. I am happy here. Here I feel safe.” IDP teenager from Donetsk NGCA, residing in Irpin Legal assistance Participants expressed greater trust in legal services provided by NGOs and local IDP lawyers as compared to the Free Legal Aid Centers (FLAC). Three participants conveyed their negative experience with FLACs (delayed assistance due to overload). Participants of two focus groups were not aware of FLACs. Three focus groups emphasized that they need NGOs providing legal aid in their oblasts with online access. The transgender community is aware of FLAC services, but their requests require specific legal, medical and psychological knowledge. Roma IDP community members expressed low level of trust in state bodies, including FLAC. IDPs in four focus groups mentioned they lack clear information on complaint mechanisms existing in Ukraine for different state authorities. Durable solutions IDPs’ future intentions depend largely on housing, existence of employment, and the interests of their children. The majority of participants do not plan to return even after the conflict ends. Some may consider returning, but only in case of safety and social-economic opportunities there. Two participants informed they were thinking of returning due to the lack of habitable housing and employment. Participants of two focus groups (Crimean Tatar) and one key informant (locally integrated IDP) intend to return only if Ukraine reinstates control over the territory. When asked about their priorities in terms of durable solutions, IDPs mentioned housing, employment, health care, and participation in affairs of host communities. DID YOU KNOW There are programmes in Ukraine that facilitate housing for IDPs in Ukraine. One of them is a scheme created with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 10 October 2018, No. 819 entitled “Some issues of providing citizens with affordable housing”, which functions on a 50/50 approach in which 50 per cent is paid by the IDP in need of housing and 50 per cent by the state. In 2018, UNHCR prepared a report evaluating the programme (click here). Other programmes include tailor made specifically for housing in rural areas and some ad hoc minor local programs at the oblast level. On access to housing, IDPs said that procurement of housing is an option only for those that can afford them and do not have other large expenditures, such as on medicine or access to health care. For those who do not have enough financial means to procure housing, temporary or social housing could be an option. In general, IDPs have said that they have not heard of the available housing programmes 24