The highest requirement of Donbas population is medications
45% of residents in Donetsk and Luhansk regions require pharmaceuticals. Now, as throughout the whole year of hostilities, there is a shortage of essential medical supplies. This was announced by the general director of Kyiv International Institute of Sociology Volodymyr Paniotto during the presentation of updated Humanitarian map of Donbas that took place on December 15.
The most demanded categories of pharmaceuticals include heart disease drugs (25%), blood pressure medications (23%) and sedatives (11%). There is a lack of other medications as well, such as antibiotics, anti-allergic medications, insulin, etc. These medications are in short supply in non-government-controlled areas or sold at the escalated prices.
"Understanding these needs of Donbas civilians, Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center provides targeted assistance with medications, especially for children, during the whole year. All the injured children are under our control. 400 families from Donbas, who are raising children with severely chronic diseases, received insulin, anticonvulsants and anti-asthmatic medications thanks to "Medications for Children" program of the Humanitarian Center. Altogether, more than 27,000 adults and children received targeted medical assistance for treatment and rehabilitation of serious diseases", – the Humanitarian Center's Coordinator Rimma Fil shared.
At the same time, the data of the last Humanitarian map research show that over the past year the "strength reserve" has increased: the number of those who find the situation intolerable has reduced by three times and the number of people who find it not bad has increased. 2/3 of all respondents think that "it is difficult to live this way, but possible to handle".
KIIS sociologists notice the improvement of humanitarian situation. Over the past year the requirement in food, medications and household goods has reduced. In December 2015 every third reported the shortage of food (45% - Dec.2014), every fifth mentioned the lack of household good and hygiene products (38% - Dec.2014). The requirement in cereals, canned food, flour and pasta has reduced vs September. Meat, dairy products and fruit are still much demanded.
According to sociologists, reduction of requirements is the result of effective work of all volunteers, international organizations and Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center. "During the past year people have been surviving thanks to humanitarian assistance. If this assistance is suspended and not provided anymore, the data of Humanitarian map will roll far back", – Natalia Kharchenko, the executive director at KIIS, assures.
"Actually, Donbas residents have a great strength reserve. But no matter how strong people are, their power and hope will disappear if they are not supported during difficult times, – Rimma Fil says. – Yes, we can see improvement in some towns. But these are the towns where Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center provides active and regular assistance. The residents of other settlements that we cannot visit have serious problems and difficulties with food and medications. That is why we still emphasize that requirement in Rinat Akhmetov’s humanitarian aid remains high. And the most important thing required by our compatriots remains the same: they want peace", – Rimma Fil summarized.
On December 15, during the roundtable meeting on "Humanitarian map of Donbas needs: results of the year and expectations of civilian population" KIIS presented the results of research that was conducted during November 24–December 5, 2015 by order of Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center and Dopomozhemo TV. 2,113 respondents older than 18 were polled through telephone and computer interviewing (CATI). Residents of 30 most distressed towns of Donetsk and Luhansk regions participated in the surveying.
