News and Stories

Marina has been forced to move twice as shells rained down on her village in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. Now she must make do in a ramshackle shelter, caring for four generations of her family and hoping for peace that will allow them to pursue happier and safer lives.

Concluding a week-long visit to Ukraine, where four years of conflict have displaced an estimated 1.5 million people, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo has called for enhanced actions to address the plight of conflict-affected persons and to secure their rights, including access to pensions and freedom of movement.

Shelling, landmines and long queues are among the hazards facing elderly residents as they try to collect their pensions.

Since the armed conflict divided eastern Ukraine back in 2014, almost 1.3 million pensioners have found themselves caught in the middle, living in territory now outside of government control but dependent on state institutions for their hard-earned retirement pensions.

Sergei and his wife were forced to dismantle a shell that hit their home, amidst a conflict that has internally displaced over 1.5 million people.

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR has increased aid supplies to people in eastern Ukraine, where freezing temperatures and fighting make the winter months a struggle.