Ukraine - Integration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

The Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) aims to support a program to integrate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine. Russia’s unprovoked aggression since 2014 has forced millions of people in Ukraine to leave their homes and find shelter in other parts of the country, becoming IDPs. The number of IDPs rose exponentially after Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. As of May 2023, more than 5 million people are considered IDPs in Ukraine, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). CSO’s programming support to IDPs since 2020 has focused on local conflict resolution between IDPs and their host communities, integrating the perspectives of IDPs into local government planning, and developing the advocacy and leadership skills of IDPs, particularly youth and women. The goal of this program is to support IDPs while guiding capable and responsive support structures in Ukraine that can increase IDP resilience and support Ukraine’s national recovery. This program will support IDPs with integrating into their host communities through building government capacity, increasing engagement and conflict resolution skills between IDPs and their hosts, and training media to decrease bias. Furthermore, the program will support emerging leaders among both IDPs and their host communities and align with Ukraine’s national recovery efforts.