At the initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, the support of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and local authorities, the Survivor Relief Centre started operating in Odesa.
This centre has become the tenth institution of its kind in Ukraine where people who have left active combat zones and/or territories that are under temporary control of Russia can receive comprehensive assistance in one place.
"From the first days of the full-scale war, Odessa were hit by Russia from the air and sea. In addition, since the temporary occupation of the Kherson region, constant shelling of the Mykolaiv — the region of Odesa has provided refuge for numerous citizens who were forced to flee from Russian bombs, torture, and occupation. Such people are still arriving in the region of Odesa. These are mostly women, children, and elderly people who have experienced violence in various forms and require comprehensive assistance. Such assistance is available in our Centres," said Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.
At the Survivor Relief Centre, social workers, psychologists, and lawyers provide confidential psychological and legal assistance free of charge. Visitors are also able to obtain information on medical services, humanitarian aid, resettlement, and social benefits.
"The creation of a network of Survivor Relief Centres in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund is one of the tasks included in the Government's Plan of Priority Actions for 2023, which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on March 14 and directs the work of executive authorities towards victory, reconstruction, and ensuring the rights and needs of citizens. The opening and provision of functioning of such a centre in Odesa is evidence of the systematic and persistent approach to achieving the goals set by the Government," commented the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy on the opening of the Centre.
In complex cases, including sexual violence, professional case managers will provide long-term support to survivors in obtaining comprehensive support to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and return to a normal life.
“The Survivor Relief Centre in Odesa is the tenth we have opened since July 2022. In this Centre, people most affected by the war can receive comprehensive support and assistance. Thousands of people have used these services, which provide a single entry point to access a broad range of support services like psycho social assistance and counselling, referral to health services and legal assistance, among others. We know that many more needs the support these facilities can offer, so by opening a Centre in Odesa, we aim to provide a reliable "shoulder to lean on" for all residents of Southern Ukraine who are enduring the horrors of the war” said Jaime Nadal, Representative of UNFPA in Ukraine.
If you need help and advice, the Centre is here for you!
"The opening of the Survivor Relief Centre is an important event for Odesa, as the centre will become one of the key institutions where anyone who has suffered as a result of the war can receive the help they require. Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, our city has been receiving and continues to receive hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons from the front-line and occupied territories. We are glad that the support system is expanding and that those in need can feel that they are not alone in their grief. We are grateful to the United Nations Population Fund for fruitful cooperation over many years. Thanks to this cooperation, we have successfully fought and continue to fight against gender-based and domestic violence, and now we can also support those who have suffered from the war," said Svitlana Bedreha, Deputy Mayor of Odessa
Address of the Centre: Kosovska Street, 2D, Odesa.
Working hours: Mon-Fri from 08:00 to 17:00.
For additional questions, you can call: +38 (067) 131 39 38
One more Survivor Relief Centre is soon to open in Kropyvnytskyi.
Since July 2022, all centres have provided almost 15,000 services. In 86% of cases, these services were used by internally displaced persons.
The Survivor Relief Centre in Odesa was established at the initiative of the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, and the support of the UN Population Fund in Ukraine, the Odesa Regional Military Administration, the Odesa City Council, and the NGO "Faith.Hope.Love."
Information: In Ukraine, such centres also operate in the following cities: Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Lviv, Poltava, Chernivtsi, Mukachevo, as well as Kherson (mobile centre) and Kharkiv (mobile centre).
You can find the address and contacts of all centres on the Survivor Relief Platform.
