On 7 October, the Government held a coordination meeting with regions and communities on the implementation of the Frontline Regions Support Programme. Participants discussed the next steps and new tools that will help ensure that residents of frontline territories have access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and other basic services.
The programme is already operating in several areas. In the housing sector, the “єОселя” programme has been expanded to provide 70% financing for the initial mortgage payment for internally displaced persons and residents of frontline territories. In the social sphere, assistance is provided for solid fuel, free electricity and increased pay for socially useful work.
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In education, free meals have been introduced for more than 670,000 children, school canteens are being renovated, school buses are being purchased, and grants are being provided to applicants from frontline areas. In the medical sector, allowances are being paid to employees in rural communities, salaries for emergency medical personnel have been increased, and a one-time payment has been introduced for interns who have remained to work in combat zones.
Support for business and the agricultural sector also continues. Enterprises are given the opportunity to reserve employees, take advantage of the updated terms of the “5-7-9” credit programme and the “Own Business” and “Grants for Recovery” grant programmes. Farmers receive subsidies, compensation, and grants for orchards and greenhouses.
During the discussion, government officials considered the specific needs of frontline communities, in particular the provision of heat, water, stable operation of utilities and repairs to housing for displaced persons. Some requests have already been fulfilled — repairs to housing in the Kharkiv region have been financed, assistance has been provided for the purchase of solid fuel, and communities in the Dnipropetrovsk region have received funds to pay off debts for water supply.
The new phase of the programme, which is currently being prepared by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development together with the regions, provides for the repair of critical infrastructure. It also includes the restoration of evacuation routes and the establishment of shelters in schools. It also includes the expansion of programmes for medical professionals. It also provides for the continuation of fixed electricity tariffs for the population.
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