Proposal for a National IDP Day
During a meeting with internally displaced persons (IDPs), Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov proposed establishing a national IDP Day on February 25 for a five-year period. This initiative aims to honor those who have lost their homes due to the war and to highlight the critical importance of their integration and housing needs. The proposal comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
The meeting took place in a dormitory housing IDPs from the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. Residents raised pressing issues concerning:
- housing;
- utility payments;
- employment;
- educational conditions for children.
Ihor Terekhov stressed that the challenges people face, such as receiving utility bills for homes they cannot inhabit due to combat, require systemic solutions at the state level.
Urgent Housing Needs and Social Support
The mayor emphasized that providing housing for those displaced by the war is an urgent issue demanding a comprehensive state approach. The city currently offers basic support and access to social, administrative, medical, educational, and employment services. Terekhov noted that Kharkiv has a demand for workers, particularly in municipal enterprises.
Among the social support measures already implemented in Kharkiv are:
- free public transport;
- complimentary hot meals;
- support for entrepreneurs;
- maintaining the social focus of the city budget.
“I believe February 25 should be IDP Day because that is when the mass forced displacement of people began. But this day should not be permanent. Tentatively, for five years, so that during this time the state and local authorities can accomplish the main task: provide housing and ensure proper integration.” – Ihor Terekhov
Establishing IDP Day on February 25 could be a significant step in drawing attention to the plight of internally displaced persons in Ukraine. Given the vast scale of forced migration caused by the war, the mayor's initiative may help improve living conditions for IDPs and spur state bodies to take more active measures in resolving housing and social issues. The importance of this date lies not only in honoring the memory of loss but also in ensuring ongoing support and integration for those affected by the conflict.