Five months ago, a free legal assistance hotline for people with disabilities was launched as part of the “Accessible Law” project, which aims to help people understand what legal options are available to them. Since then, experts have provided over a thousand consultations to residents of the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.
During consultations with our lawyers, the largest group of questions concerned internally displaced persons. They are most concerned not only with general issues regarding IDP status, but also with questions regarding receiving or renewing benefits, obtaining humanitarian aid or living assistance, securing housing, and receiving guidance on crossing the border.
Most inquiries currently concern legal advice regarding children affected by the conflict. We received 91 calls regarding this issue. Slightly fewer inquiries — 79 calls — concern general questions about document processing. In third place are inquiries regarding compensation for destroyed property — 55 calls. Applicants are also interested in questions regarding the processing of payments, subsidies, and financial assistance. During the winter, inquiries focused not only on pension recalculations but also on receiving heating assistance.
If you are being denied the benefits or entitlements you are entitled to, if the authorities are not responding, or if you believe your rights have been violated — don’t wait! Call the free legal aid hotline: +38 093 933 66 77. Our specialists are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
This project is being implemented by the public association “The League of the Strong” and the International Rescue Committee in Ukraine with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom through UK aid as part of the BLOOM Program. The program is being implemented by the BLOOM consortium, which includes Mercy Corps, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Swisscontact, and Right to Protection (R2P).