Displaced Ukrainians Find Refuge
The 18 month, Russian-backed rebellion of eastern Ukraine has displaced more than 1.4 million people, cost nearly 7,000 lives, and brought the economy of eastern Ukraine the economic and industrial heartland of the country to a standstill. Two million civilians remain in homes devastated by shelling on the line of contact, what is considered the frozen frontline of the conflict. Artillery shelling and mortar attacks occur daily along this conflict line, killing soldiers and civilians, destroying houses and villages, and displacing thousands more from their homes. Beyond this line of contact in the Non-Government Controlled Areas (NGCA), an additional two million civilians are in need of humanitarian assistance. Amidst the destruction, the Ukrainian government, the UN, regional authorities, civil society organizations, and local volunteers are providing much-needed services to the internally displaced.