Warmth and comfort for IDPs: how Brovary creates conditions for winterization of IDPs
Kyiv • UNN
Brovary has a modular town for IDPs for 352 people with full comfort and infrastructure. The town has autonomous power supplies, free Wi-Fi and all the conditions for comfortable living in winter.
With the onset of cold weather and deterioration of the weather, the issue of comfortable living becomes even more urgent, especially for those who were forced to leave their homes. UNN decided to find out how the residents of the modular town for internally displaced persons in Brovary live in such conditions. Are their homes ready for winter? What challenges do the residents face and how do they overcome them?
A modular town has been created in Brovary, which has become a shelter for internally displaced persons who have been left homeless by the war. This project has become one of the symbols of community support and solidarity with those affected by the consequences of Russian aggression.
The town is equipped with modern modular houses that meet all comfort and safety standards. There is everything you need for temporary residence: kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, recreation areas and even space for children. In addition, the town is provided with alternative sources of electricity, which allows its residents to feel comfortable in the absence of electricity in cold weather.
As of today, the situation is stable. We have alternative sources of electricity, including two generators that fully provide residents with heat in case of a power outage. We do not allow the temperature to fall below normal. When the temperature is already below the norm in the room itself, the generators are switched on and the premises are heated
He noted that there are currently no complaints from internally displaced persons about their living conditions.
At the same time, the management of the modular town noted that monitoring groups conducting inspections of IDPs' living conditions have noted that the town in Brovary is one of the best in Ukraine.
Its residents are fully provided for, they have infrastructure, they have a place to cook, they have constant warm water, they have restrooms, they have common rooms equipped with free Wi-Fi, television, and comfortable sofas.
In addition, the modules are equipped with a fire safety system, and each module has an air conditioning system.
There is a playground for children living in the modular town.
"Here, children and adults can attend municipal institutions and clubs free of charge. For example, as part of extracurricular activities, children go to free clubs, and people of retirement age go to the swimming pool for free. For this purpose, we have a special transport that transports them for free," said the mayor.
He also added that children of internally displaced persons can attend schools and kindergartens in the city.
"We have a school and a kindergarten nearby. Local children are very fond of the children from the modular town. For two years, when the children went to kindergartens and schools, we had no conflicts or bullying at all. They accept IDP children very well, treat them well. They have friends," said Ihor Sapozhko.
According to him, the local authorities help people who come to the city with employment if necessary.
According to the mayor of Brovary, special attention is paid to creating conditions for comfortable living for people with disabilities. All buildings are equipped with ramps, and the territory is fully accessible to people with limited mobility. "We have made every effort to make the town as comfortable as possible for different categories of residents, including large families, pensioners and people with special needs," emphasized Igor Sapozhko.
In the modular town , UNN was told that the mayor is constantly interested in the comfort of the residents. "He himself comes to some receptions or meetings with IDPs, where they discuss all issues. He always asks the staff of the institution what their needs are, and also the people who live here, what they need for a comfortable stay. And these issues are constantly being resolved," said local residents.
According to Ihor Sapozhko, this project is extremely important for the Brovary community. According to him, the modular town is part of a larger strategy to support IDPs in Brovary. "This is not just housing, it is a temporary home for those who have lost everything. We continue to work to ensure that these people feel part of our community, receive support and have the opportunity to adapt to new conditions," the mayor said.
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The modular town for internally displaced persons in Brovary was built with the help of Polish and German partners and opened in November 2012.
It consists of 4 interconnected buildings, each with 22 rooms with four beds. Each block has ten showers and toilets. In total, the modular town is designed for 352 people.
