Political Implications of Unassisted Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine I. Introduction: the Crimea Conflict In 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the USSR and became an independent nation. Conflict began in late 2013 when the Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, abandoned an agreement to have closer trade relations with the European Union, and instead agreed to work more closely with Russia. 1 As a result of this decision, protests against the government began in Ukraine. As tensions rose, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, entered into a $15 billion dollar deal with Yanukovych, buying a large sum of Ukraine s debt in exchange for a reduced price for gas supplies for Russia. 2 Following this deal, Ukrainian protests escalated into violence. Protests evolved into a fortified opposition movement against the government, eventually overthrowing Yanukovych, and implementing a new, pro-western government. After the overthrow of the pro-russian government, Russia invaded the oil rich and largely pro-russian Ukrainian region, Crimea, in order to protect its interests in that region as promised by the deal made by Putin and former President Yanukovych. 3 Since the Russian invasion of Crimea, Russian forces and pro-russian separatists have been in constant violent conflict with forces under the new Ukrainian government in the predominantly pro- Russian eastern region of Ukraine. 4 1 Ukraine Crisis: Timeline, BBC (Sept. 9, 2014), http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275. 2 Id. 3 Id. 4 Id.
I. The Result of Constant Conflict: Growing Numbers of Internally Displaced Persons The numbers of internally displaced people began to rise in Ukraine with the conflict in Crimea, and has grown exponentially since Ukrainian forces began to fight with pro- Russian separatists in the east. While some Ukrainians are fleeing the east because of the damage done by conflict, others who are loyal to Ukraine are fleeing the east for fear of persecution while living in a Russian dominated state. 5 According to reports from an August 5, 2014, U.N. Security Council meeting, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has already put nearly four million people living in the conflict zone at risk, damage[ing] key civilian infrastructure, including water supplies and medical facilities. 6 In Donetsk and Luhansk, cities in the eastern Ukrainian conflict zone, the water supply had been reduced to a few hours per day, health supplies are low, over half of the healthcare personnel have fled, significantly reducing access to medical care, and 1,600 families have seen their homes damaged. 7 The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is at 114,000. 8 Internally displaced persons are fleeing to central and western Ukraine, and many in the east have fled to neighboring Russia because of the unrest. 9 5 Janek Lasocki, A Growing Refugee Crisis in Ukraine, ECFR S BLOG (Jul. 11, 2014), http://www.ecfr.eu/blog/entry/the_growing_refugee_crisis_in_ukraine. 6 Humanitarian Conditions Will Continue to Deteriorate if Crisis in Eastern Ukraine Persists, Senior Official Tells Security Council, U.N. Press Release SC/11508 (Aug. 5, 2014), http://www.un.org/news/press/docs/2014/sc11508.doc.htm. 7 Id. 8 Internal Displacement Map, UNHCR Ukraine (Aug. 26, 2014), http://unhcr.org.ua/en/2011-08-26-06-58-56/news-archive/1244-internal-displacement-map. 9 Lasocki, supra note 5; see also U.N. supra note 6.
II. Remedial Measures Taken by Ukraine The Ukrainian government has taken action to assist internally displaced persons, although these steps have proven to be largely ineffective. 10 Some measures include proposing various laws to help IDPs gain access to resources, but the Ukranian government has struggled to put them into practice. 11 On June 10, 2014, Petro Poroshenko, the newly elected president of Ukraine, ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors so that civilians can flee areas of east Ukraine hit by conflict, and supplies could be brought in to those who remain in affected areas. 12 The Ukrainian government also promised to provide transportation, food, and medical supplies to enable local officials to handle the expected inflow of displaced people into other areas of Ukraine. 13 Despite the supplies promised by the government, the influx of internally displaced persons is causing strain on the regions housing of these people, and the regions are largely unprepared to deal with the growing numbers of people coming across their borders. 14 The majority of assistance for IDPs comes from nongovernment, community-based organizations, and volunteers, such as churches. 15 The humanitarian corridors have given rise to tension between Ukraine and Russia in competing humanitarian efforts. According to a UN report, the Ukrainian government claims that they have no humanitarian crises, and that the only difficulties that exist are in 10 See Lasocki, supra note 5. While aid has been focused on the regional level, the central government s response has come under fire a single registration system is still not up and running, a new law on IDP status and assistance does not meet international standards and only recently has a member of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Hroisman, been appointed responsible for IDPs. Id. 11 See Lasocki, supra note 5. 12 Ukraine to Create Humanitarian Corridors, BBC (Jun. 10, 2014), http://www.bbc.com/news/worldeurope-27776186. 13 Id. 14 Ukraine: Letter to President Poroshenko on Internally Displaced Persons, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (Jul. 21, 2014), http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/21/ukraine-letter-president-poroshenko-internally-displacedpersons 15 Id.; see also Lasocki, supra note 5.
cities under Russian control. 16 They claim that the humanitarian corridors that have been set up cannot operate fully because of the activities of armed groups supported by Russia. 17 There are also reports by Russia countering Ukraine s assertions, specifically that Ukraine s Government was not interested at all in creating humanitarian corridors to evacuate children and had refused the Russian Federation s proposal to set them up. 18 Tensions reached a peak on August 22, 2014 when over 100 Russian trucks containing supplies for victims in the rebel-held city of Luhansk entered Ukraine without permission. 19 The Ukrainian government accused Russia of violating fundamental international law, but also upped its humanitarian relief efforts in response. 20 III. The Implications of Large Numbers of Unassisted Ukrainians Although the need for relief stems directly from the acts of aggression by Russia, the effect of the Ukrainian government s inadequate response to the needs of internally displaced persons will have serious political ramifications for Ukraine internally, and has the potential to disrupt Ukraine s relationships with other nations. A. Internal Political Implications for Crimea and the Eastern Region Ukraine is in conflict with Russia over the Crimean land, and also faces conflict in the eastern region between Ukrainian nationalists and pro-russian separatists. Within Ukraine itself, there is a divide between those who want to become part of the Russian Federation again and those who want to remain an independent state. In order to prevail 16 U.N., supra note 6. 17 Id. 18 Id. 19 Ukrainian Conflict: Russian Aid or Trojan Horse, BBC (Aug. 22, 2014) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28752878. Russia's dispatch of a huge convoy of lorries carrying humanitarian aid to east Ukraine has raised suspicions about its intentions, given its support for the rebels fighting the Ukrainian government there. Id. 20 Id.
in these conflicts with Russia, Ukraine will need a strong base of support from its citizens. The lack of humanitarian relief in Ukraine has already driven people out of eastern Ukraine into Russia to seek basic human needs that they were deprived of in Ukrainian conflict zones. The lack of basic human needs will continue to push Ukrainians out of conflict zones and into Russia, or other nations, to look for relief, which will ultimately have negative political implications when trying to regain control of land that is densely populated by people who are already pro-russian. Ukraine will continue to lose the loyalty of its people if it continues to fail providing for them. In addition to populations directly impacted by the conflict, the lack of humanitarian response will have a damaging effect on Ukraine s relationship with its citizens in the neighboring regions who are giving the majority of the relief to those who have been displaced. When the Ukrainian government established humanitarian corridors, it promised resources to the areas where the displaced persons were likely to flee, namely Central and Western Ukraine. Unfortunately, few resources have been delivered. Without providing additional relief to these areas, they are indirectly harming people in unaffected areas by ripple effect, and Ukrainian citizens are left to fend for themselves as the few government-supplied resources are being stretched between many people. B. Effect on International Relations Although the Ukrainian government has said that it is open to the humanitarian efforts of the UN and other organizations, the Ukrainian president has not acknowledged that they have a humanitarian crisis in dealing with IDPs. 21 The Ukrainian government is improperly addressing the needs of its people, and by not intensifying their relief efforts 21 U.N., supra note 6.
for affected persons, Ukraine is allowing its citizens to suffer without things like water, adequate housing, access to medical attention, or access to education, which has the potential to have a serious impact on its relationships with other nations. International organizations, such as the UN, of which Ukraine is member, hold member-states accountable for the actions the State takes to ensure the welfare of its citizens. 22 According to principle 18 of the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Ukrainian national authorities have a responsibility to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to IDPs in the form of an adequate standard of living, which includes, water, shelter, clothing, medical services and sanitation. 23 If Ukraine does not increase its relief efforts it will be in clear violation of treaty-based international law. In addition, members of the UN have called for Ukraine to create additional programs to assist IDPs, such as the creation of a centralized registration system to track the movement of displaced persons and a more coordinated government organization to head relief efforts. 24 While the government is supplying minimal relief and the suggestions of other nations are going unheeded, this could be damaging to Ukraine s relationships with other UN member-states that hold welfare and safety in the highest regard. While the conflict with Russia continues, Ukraine faces great challenges on many fronts: economically, socially, and politically. However, with this conflict, the number of internally displaced people continues to grow and humanitarian relief is deteriorating. The welfare and safety of its people should be of top priority, and Ukraine should step up 22 See U.N. Charter Art. 1 Para. 3, available at http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml. 23 U.N. OCHA, Guiding Principles of Internal Displacement Princ. 18, available at https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/documents/guidingprinciplesdispl.pdf 24 U.N., supra note 6.
to the forefront to meet these needs by whatever means necessary. By placing other interests ahead of the welfare of its citizens and leaving the majority of the coordinated relief efforts to nongovernmental volunteers, Ukraine could be damaging the relationship it has with its people nationwide, as well as Ukraine s relationships with other countries and multinational organizations. As of September 5 th 2014, there has been a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-russian separatists. 25 For now, this could mean the beginning to the end of the humanitarian conflict, and the return of many Ukrainians to their homes. However, with the proven fragility of the situation, only time will tell. 25 BBC, supra note 1.