Participatory Practices in Emergency Assistance for Displaced People in Ukraine and Germany 

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine continues to cause death, destruction, forced displacement and suffering on a massive scale. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, almost 18 million people - about 49 percent of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. The war has driven millions of people from their homes, and many are still forced to flee in order to survive. Some of them choose safer regions in Ukraine as their destination, while others flee abroad. As of the beginning of 2023, about 5 million Ukrainians were registered as internally displaced, while 6 million applied for protection in Europe.
Municipalities and civil society of Ukraine and Germany are making efforts to support people who were forced to relocate, creating activities and assistance programs for social integration and emergency response.
We aim to bring together municipalities and civil society from both countries and discuss their experience in emergency response.
The event was focused on:
- How does first emergency assistance work in Ukrainian and German municipalities?
- What are the good practices and challenges of cooperation between civil society and municipal administrations?
- How can displaced people be involved in emergency response planning?
Speakers:
- Vitalii Antonenko, Head of Bilokurakyne Village Military Administrations, Luhansk Region;
- Ksenia Gedz, Advocacy Coordinator, CF “Right to Protection”;
- Alissa Rentowitsch, Leadership & Participation group facilitator, IsraAID Germany e.V.;
- Zhanna Kramer, Coordinator for Community Work in the Lichtenberg District of Berlin.
This workshop is organised by the German umbrella organisation for migrant organisations moveGLOBAL e.V. and the Ukrainian think tank Cedos as a part of a series of online events on "Strengthening the Participation of Displaced People and Migrants in Municipal Decisions on Emergency Assistance and Integration" as part of the Cross Culture Synergy programe funded by the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA).