Internally Displaced People in Ukraine: Homecoming Intentions

Author

NOVAK IRYNA

a Ph.D. in Economics, a leading research fellow at Human Development Research Department of the NASU M. Ptukha Institute of Demography and Social Studies

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN UKRAINE: HOMECOMING INTENTIONS

Abctract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the dynamics of the number and mobility of the registered internally displaced persons in Ukraine. Basing on the data of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and sociological surveys of internally displaced persons under the protection of the International Organization for Migration, it is concluded that there is no trend towards the return of a significant number of registered internally displaced persons to temporarily occupied territories. Dynamic changes in the intentions of internally displaced persons regarding their return to the places of permanent dwelling have been analyzed, in particular, depending on the regions of their present residence. The main social and demographic characteristics of internally displaced persons, who have returned to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the reasons for their return and subjective assessments of the level and quality of life have been determined.

The general situation about the intentions of internally displaced persons and their choice in the return-failure to return dichotomy today is balanced – 40% vs 38%. The share of internally displaced persons, who do not plan to return to their places of permanent residence, is increasing within the moving away the temporarily occupied territories. Therefore, a strategy to implement long-term solutions on the issue of internally displaced persons different instruments depending on the region of residence should be used: return to the places of origin and reintegration in the Eastern regions, integration in a new location in areas remote from the region of armed conflict.

Qualitative characteristics of the living standards of internally displaced persons who have returned to temporarily occupied territories are worse than those of internally displaced persons who live in the areas under Ukraine control. However, the priority of the availability of private property in the place of permanent residence when deciding to return indicates the necessity to implement the measures of state social policy to create mechanisms to provide the internally displaced persons with dwelling.

Keywords

internally displaced persons, temporarily occupied territories, social and demographic characteristics, level and quality of life.

References

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