On October 1 – 5, 2018, the 69^th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner's for Refugees Programme is taking place in Geneva.

Participants of the session are discussing issues related to the review of current activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the revision of the Biennial Program Budget for 2018 – 2019, as well as are considering a wide range of problems in the sphere of assisting displaced persons and persons in need of additional protection in different regions of the world.

In his opening statement, the UN High Commissioner F.Grandi noted the grave humanitarian situation in the world and further increase of the number of forcibly displaced persons this year, focused on the importance of the approval of the Global Compact on Refugees and the development of mechanisms for its further implementation, and also drew attention to the situation of underfinancing of the Organization's programs in the recent years.

During the general debate the Permanent Representative of Ukraine in Geneva Y.Klymenko, in particular, stressed on the root causes of the large-scale displacement of persons in Ukraine and unprecedented humanitarian challenges it confronts due to continuing hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation against our country. He highlighted current humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the steps taken by the Government to assist the affected population, expressed gratitude to the UNHCR and its regional partners for their active humanitarian activities in Ukraine, as well as called upon the international community to provide adequate financial support for the implementation of the UN-led Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine for 2018.

69^th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR Programme

Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine

Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

3 October 2018

 

Madam Chairperson,

The delegation of Ukraine wishes to thank the High Commissioner for his opening remarks with a profound overview of the current trends and policy priorities of his Office. We commend UNHCR`s strong leadership over the last year in an attempt to find and establish new mechanisms for responding to the problems of displaced persons and persons in need of protection. In this regard we support UNHCR’s reforming efforts to be better prepared for the current humanitarian challenges in the world.

Ukraine has aligned itself with the European Union's statement delivered on Monday. At the same time, I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity.

We positively note the preparation of the final text of the Global Compact on Refugees, the elaboration of which took two years of intense consultations and negotiations. After its expected approval later this year by the UN General Assembly, we are looking forward to further productive work on developing mechanisms for its due implementation.

At the same time, it is worth taking into consideration that the Global Compact does not cover most of the forcibly displaced persons in the world, namely the IDPs, which, according to the UNHCR, constitute almost two thirds or 40 mln of all persons on the move. Apparently, respective international mechanisms and strategies on protection and assistance for IDPs remain underdeveloped. We believe the UNHCR could play in future a greater role in dealing with the situations of internal displacement.

Madam Chairperson,

The Ukrainian side, certainly, paid attention to the High Commissioner's  reference in his opening statement to the hundreds of thousands of people uprooted in Ukraine. In this regard, I would like to associate myself with the clause of the EU statement delivered on Monday, saying that "we must never lose sight of the need to tackle the root causes of forced displacement". As to Ukraine, the root cause of the massive internal displacement and dire humanitarian situation, in particular, in conflict affected areas, is the lasting Russian hybrid war waged against my country. Without adequate addressing of this root cause, we would not be able to change the situation for the better in the medium and long term perspective.

Ukraine appreciates continued active engagement of the UNHCR in my country in this extremely difficult time for us through a wide range of activities from emergency assistance to the affected persons to the implementation of the long-term strategy.

Relevant government agencies are actively involved in activities together with the UNHCR and its regional partners with the aim of better ensuring the rights and freedoms of persons in need and better providing necessary services to them.

The Government of Ukraine expects that in its activities, in particular in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to the affected population will further fully comply with the Ukrainian legislation as well as the UN General Assembly resolutions, in particular the UNGA resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014 «Territorial integrity of Ukraine» and other relevant documents.

Madam Chairperson,

We commend this year’s visit to Ukraine of the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo who had an opportunity to get an updated objective information from the field on the real situation of IDPs, refugees and other persons in need in our country.

In Ukraine about 1.5 million of persons have been registered as IDPs. Among them over 49 thousand are persons with disabilities, 232 thousand children and 793 thousand retirees. The Ukrainian Government does its utmost to ensuring the appropriate protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of the IDPs, as well as the implementation of relevant mechanisms that are in line with international standards.

In November 2017, the Strategy for the Integration of IDPs and the Implementation of Long-term Decisions on Internal Displacement for the Period till 2020, which was elaborated with the assistance of UNHCR, the World Bank, OCHA and the Council of Europe, was adopted in Ukraine. The goal of the Strategy is the socio-economic integration of the IDPs and the implementation of long-term solutions for the realization and protection of their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, as well as increasing of their self-reliance and independence, taking into account the interests of host communities and establishing effective cooperation of IDPs, local communities and authorities. At this time, the Plan of Action on implementation of this Strategy is at the final stage of its approval.

Madam Chairperson,

Despite the persistent efforts which have been already undertaken by the Ukrainian Government, we, at the same time, continue counting on assistance of our partners in coping with the current acute humanitarian challenges against a backdrop of continuing external aggressive actions against my country. In this regard, appropriate funding of the UN-led Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine for 2018 and UNHCR programmes would be highly appreciated.

At the same, Madam Chairperson, let me assure you of our readiness to further support the High Commissioner's Office in its tireless efforts and dedication to help people in need all over the world, often in difficult and dangerous situations.

I thank you.