Today, 10 April, three mobile Survivor Relief Centres were officially launched in Borodianka, Ukraine, to provide qualified psychological, social and legal support to residents of areas no longer occupied and frontline regions of Ukraine. The mobile Survivor Relief Centres are part of a network of stationary centers currently operating in 11 cities across Ukraine.
The launch of the mobile centers was attended by Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Massimo Diana, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine, Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine, and Peter Van de Velde, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine. The event was also attended by: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko, Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Lesia Karnaukh and others.
"It is no coincidence that we are gathered here today in Borodianka. Two years ago, in April, after the de-occupation of the Kyiv region, the world saw the true face of Russia - the scale of the crimes committed by the Russian military. In an effort to help and support the survivors as quickly as possible, we have launched a unique project with our partners at the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine. Our aim is to extend the geographical reach of the centers and help those who find it difficult to get to the fixed centers on their own. The mobile centers will allow us to increase our efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukrainians," said Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Since the outbreak of full-scale war, Ukraine has faced unprecedented levels of violence. Currently, more than 270 cases of sexual violence have been registered in Ukraine. However, the UN estimates that the number of survivors of sexual violence during the war may be 10-20 times higher than the official figures. Survivor Relief Centres provide comprehensive support to those in need, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
"War-related sexual violence is a heinous crime that cannot be justified under any circumstances. The impact is thousands of survivors, each with their unique experience. It is extremely difficult to cope with what you have experienced alone. That is why there are Survivor Relief Centers where survivors can receive qualified psychological, legal and social support confidentially and free of charge. For us, at UNFPA, United Nations Populations Fund, it is crucial that as many people as possible have access to quality services. That is why the launch of mobile rescue centers is vital for Ukrainians everywhere who are unable to access to stationary centers," said Massimo Diana, UNFPA Representative in Ukraine.
The Survivor Relief Centres were created to respond to the challenges of war. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), people who have fled war zones or occupied territories, local residents and anyone else in need of assistance can receive help there. The services provided are confidential, unconditional and free of charge. The first Survivor Relief Center was opened in Zaporizhzhia in 2022. As of today, the services are also available in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, Poltava, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi and Mukachevo.
"The people of Spain stand in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine who are resisting horrific armed aggression. The trauma caused by war can take a long time to heal. Therefore, qualified psychological support is of great importance. We are honored to be a part of this significant initiative to launch mobile Centers to help survivors, which will be able to serve even more Ukrainians, including those in hard-to-reach regions," said Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine.
Two mobile Survivor Relief Centers, purchased with the support of Spain, will operate in the Kherson, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions. Another one, purchased with the support of Belgium, will be working in the Kharkiv region. The mobile centers are fully equipped to provide consultations.
"It is a priority for the Belgian government to,oo.Ib b hyhm those who were forced to leave their homes to escape the war, and those who have experienced war-related sexual violence. We are proud to support the network of the Survivor Relief Centers, which provides much-needed services to Ukrainians in the most difficult times of war," said Ambassador Extraordinary and Ple nipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine Peter Van de Velde.
The Survivor Relief centers were established on the initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, with the support of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, thanks to the financial support of the governments of Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden, and in cooperation with local authorities.
