In Khersonska Oblast, our regional team collaborated with the Dnipro branch of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ukraine (UNHCR) to undertake a poll within the Vysokopilska community. The aim was to determine the needs of people with disabilities residing in this territorial community.
Mykhailo Tekutyev, Darya Tekutyeva, and Olha Strelets, representing the UNHCR’s Dnipro field office, took part in the event. Also present were members of the community, inclusive of individuals with disabilities and IDPs, representatives of local authorities, and representatives of the Askania-Nova Military Administration, temporarily stationed in Vysokopillia.
The primary concerns highlighted by the focus group encompassed renovating residences and administrative buildings, renewing infrastructure (with an emphasis on schools and medical facilities affected by shelling), recruiting permanent medical professionals for the community, introducing social taxis—especially for trips to healthcare institutions in other locales—and employment opportunities.
Oksana Tropina, the regional coordinator, shared her insights: “The event was dynamic with enthusiastic participation in the discussion. We found out that the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in this community mirror those of its general populace. A significant number of skilled professionals, currently without employment, have returned here. Conversely, the local authorities are experiencing a shortage of qualified staff to fill positions in the authorities. While the community receives regular visits from the Doctors Without Borders team, there’s a glaring absence of local medical practitioners. Consequently, inhabitants often have to seek medical aid either from the Beryslavska hospital, which is being shelled, or travel to Kryvyi Rih. This is a situation that warrants urgent rectification.”
Recognizing the distinct needs of varied demographic sections empowers both local authorities and international organizations to address the community’s most pressing issues.
This focus group session was a segment of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons, funded by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.