In Merefa, Kharkivska Oblast, IDPs who need medical supplies, including hearing aids, urological, antiseptic and other assistive care products, can receive one-time financial assistance to purchase them.
The introduction of this new financial assistance mechanism was made possible by an initiative of the Council on Internally Displaced Persons under the Executive Committee of the Merefa City Council. Local council members allocated additional funding of UAH 500,000 for the programme and are ready to increase the amount if necessary. The full list of medical supplies eligible for assistance is available in the relevant decision on the community’s website.
Regional teams of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” support IDP Councils in their day-to-day work. They provide mentoring, train councils to monitor local programmes, and help them plan the activities of advisory and consultative bodies.
The Foundation implements these activities within the project “Support to the capacity of government institutions and local hromadas to strengthen social protection systems in Ukraine”, with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
We continue to share stories about the results of IDP Councils’ work — stories that demonstrate how councils can influence local programmes and help internally displaced people in their new communities. Each such story is an example of care and a commitment to supporting those who need it.
Programme monitoring as the first step towards change
Analysing local targeted programmes helps identify what support opportunities for internally displaced people already exist in a community, what is missing, and what changes need to be introduced.
“The whole community benefits from cooperation between the IDP Council and local authorities. We proved this through our own experience. While analysing local programmes and residents’ requests, we noticed that many people with chronic illnesses or disabilities, as well as older people, have to regularly purchase expensive medical supplies that are either not provided free of charge by the state or are provided only partially. The cost of these products is a significant financial burden for many families, especially for internally displaced people who have lost their homes, jobs or stable income. Therefore, we discussed the issue at an IDP Council meeting and sent an official letter to the Merefa City Council proposing to introduce this type of assistance,” says Olena Svyrydova, Head of the Council on Internally Displaced Persons under the Executive Committee of the Merefa City Council.
A strategic planning session conducted by our regional team in 2025 helped the IDP Council systematise its tasks, organise internal processes and establish more effective ways of working. This allowed the council to identify its priorities and begin analysing local programmes.
“During the strategic planning session, we helped the members of the IDP Council identify their priority areas and see that monitoring local programmes can be one of the most effective tools for influencing local policy. When the council identified that the community lacked a mechanism for providing financial assistance to purchase medical supplies, we provided methodological support in preparing an appeal to the executive committee. This appeal prompted the development of a new procedure for providing targeted assistance. The IDP Council has established effective cooperation with local authorities. As a result, the decision was later submitted to a session of the city council, where it was supported by the council members. For us, it is important not only to help solve a particular problem, but also to show advisory and consultative bodies how analysis, planning and advocacy can be used to systematically influence local policy and achieve real change,” emphasises Svitlana Ludan, Regional Project Coordinator in Kharkivska Oblast.
How the programme works: step-by-step
To receive one-time financial assistance, a person or their authorised representative must apply to the Administrative Services Centre in Merefa. The complete list of documents that must be attached to the application is specified in the relevant procedure (clause 10.2).
“Administrators accept the documents and, through the Social Protection and Healthcare Department, submit them for consideration by a special commission. Since May, seven people have already received assistance, two of whom are internally displaced people. The maximum payment is UAH 50,000. The amount depends on the type of medical supplies a person needs. On average, people have received UAH 30,000–35,000,” says Yanina Zhuvaha, Head of the Social Protection and Healthcare Department of the Merefa City Council.
Olena (name changed at her request) was able to receive this assistance for her mother.
“We moved to Merefa from a village in Kharkivska Oblast located near the border. My mother needs to purchase medical supplies every month, and we spend more than UAH 3,000 on them. This is significant financial support for us,” Olena says.
This is a clear example of how efforts to improve social protection for internally displaced people can lead to solutions that benefit local residents as well. Cooperation between IDP Councils and local authorities can produce results that make a real difference for everyone who needs support.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.