Support to Early Recovery in War-affected Areas in Ukraine

Project summary:

This project focuses on clearing debris and explosive ordnance, mitigating environmental and health risks, and restoring essential utilities. Working with national and local authorities, it provides equipment, carries out capacity-building activities, and directly responds to the needs of war-affected communities, while promoting green recovery principles. The project's objective is to safeguard civilians in targeted regions, create preconditions for the secure return of displaced individuals, and enable reconstruction and early recovery.

The project is funded by the European Union through the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.

Project goals:

  • To clear debris and explosive ordnance from targeted regions, ensuring safe access for civilians, and facilitating reconstruction efforts through activities such as damage assessment, liaison with the relevant authorities, debris removal, and proper waste disposal.
  • To identify, assess, and mitigate critical environmental and social health risks and impacts.
  • To restore critical utility services, including water supply systems, waste management systems, and energy systems.

Results:

As of June 2024

  • Over 900 sites in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts were inspected by non-technical teams to confirm they had been cleared of explosive ordnance.
  • Over 89,000 tonnes of demolition waste were cleared and removed from the communities of Kyiv Oblast, as well as the city of Kharkiv, and an innovative debris recycling station was established in the community of Bucha near Kyiv.
  • Full sets of demining, protective, and technical tools for 22 demining units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were provided. 
  • A study of soil contamination due to the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam was conducted.
  • Equipment to restore the supply of clean water to more than 620,000 residents of the communities of Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih districts was provided.
  • Five communities in Kyiv Oblast received modern equipment, such as waste collection trucks, to help them restore municipal waste management services.