Disability organisation, relocated from eastern Ukraine, organises clean-ups in the west

The Luhansk Association of Organisations of People with Disabilities, an NGO that normally operates in eastern Ukraine, but which had to flee the violence, this week organised a campaign to clean garbage from the streets of two communities in Lviv Oblast, Komarniv and Velikolyubin, which have sheltered more than 1,200 internally displaced persons from war-torn regions.

More than 200 activists joined the clean-up in both communities, which was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union.  

Frederik Coene, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said such activities help IDPs integrate more quickly and easily into the new environment and help strengthen social cohesion within communities, whilst also contributing to the development of socially useful initiatives.

Manal Fouani, interim UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, noted the exceptional engagement of Ukrainians who, despite the war, are eagerly working hand-in-hand with the local authorities, civils society and displaced people to protect the environment they live in. “These clean-up campaigns are very inspiring. We at UNDP, together with our European partners, are ready to support such initiatives that, in addition to benefiting the environment, strengthen unity among IDPs and residents of host communities.”

The clean-ups were organised with with the financial support of the European Union under UNDP’s Resilinece Building and Recovery Programme, which supports the government’s emergency response, its commitment to public services, and to keeping the economy running. 

Find out more

Press release