Igor Terekhov discussed plans for the restoration of Kharkiv with international organisations

28 november 2024 16:40 International cooperation

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov met with representatives of international organisations that are helping the city to overcome the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation today, on 28 November.

Among the participants of the event were representatives of the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the French organisation ACTED, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Czech humanitarian organisation Čiudek v direži (Man in Need) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The meeting participants summed up the results of their joint work in the city over the past year and discussed priorities for the future, including the restoration of damaged buildings, dismantling of emergency houses, replacement of windows and material support for affected citizens.

According to Igor Terekhov, over 10,000 apartments have been restored in Kharkiv this year, and about 30,000 windows have been installed.

‘Thanks to your help, tens of thousands of families have been able to return to their homes. But there are still many problems: more than 60,000 more windows need to be installed in the city. We will also focus our efforts on overhauling multi-storey buildings that have sustained significant damage to make them suitable for normal life. As for the emergency multi-storey buildings that cannot be restored, their dismantling will also be a priority next year. We will develop a programme not only to dismantle the ruins but also to lay the foundation for the construction of new modern residential complexes in their place,’ said Igor Terekhov.

International organisations have confirmed their readiness to support Kharkiv in the future. In particular, UNDP will be engaged in the dismantling of buildings to be demolished. Roman Shakhmatenko, UNDP Ukraine's Team Leader for Energy and Environment, said that 12 such facilities will be taken over in the near future.

‘We have been supporting Kharkiv and will continue to do so. One of our projects is the recycling of construction waste and the reuse of materials. There is already a pilot site in Kyiv region, and we are ready to share this experience with Kharkiv. This will create new jobs and reduce the environmental impact of the destruction,’ said Roman Shakhmatenko.

Other foundations also announced support programmes for the next year, including financial and humanitarian aid, housing reconstruction and winter heating.

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