Archive for the ‘Ukraine’ Category

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Gallery Of Single Women From Russia & Ukraine.Free to Date ...

Ukraine Overview – worldbank.org

Strategy

World Bank Portfolio

No. of projects:8 IBRD investment operations, plus one guarantee

Total lending:US$2.5 billion, including US$148 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)

Ukraine joined the World Bank in 1992. Over 25 years of cooperation, the Banks commitments to the country have totaled close to US$12 billion in about 70 projects and programs.

In March 2014, after receiving a request from the then Ukrainian Government, the World Bank Group immediately announced its support for a reform agenda aiming to put the Ukrainian economy on a path to sustainability.

The current International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) portfolio consists of eight investment operations of roughly US$2.5 billion and one guarantee of US$500 million.

The World Bank and the current Government are implementing a 201721 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Ukraine that supports the countrys efforts to achieve a lasting economic recovery benefiting the entire population.

The new CPF focuses on ensuring that markets work more effectively, establishing the necessary conditions for fiscal and financial stability, and improving service delivery for all Ukrainians.

Key Engagement

Responding to the crisis in Ukraine, in March 2014, the World Bank Group announced that it would provide additional financial and technical support to the country.

Since 2014, the World Bank Group has supported the people of Ukraine through two series of Development Policy Loans (DPLs), seven new investment operations, and a guarantee amounting to approximately US$5.5 billion aimed at improving critical public services, supporting reforms, and bolstering the private sector.

The World Bank has supported high-priority reform measures to address the key structural roots of the current economic crisis in Ukraine and to lay the foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth through two series of budget support operations: the multi-sector DPL series (MSDPL-1, US$750 million approved in 2014, and MSDPL-2, US$500 million approved in 2015) and the Financial Sector (FS) DPL series (FSDPL-1, US$500 million approved in 2014, and FSDPL-2, US$500 million approved in 2015).

Reform measures aided by these four budget support operations promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in the public sector, as well as stability in the banking sector; a reduction in the cost of doing business; and the effective use of scarce public resources to provide quality public services at a crucial time.

These operations also support the authorities in continuing to reform an inefficient and inequitable housing subsidy system while protecting the poor from tariff increases by strengthening social assistance.

World Bank investment projects have focused and will continue to focus on improving basic public services, such as district heating, water and sanitation, health, and social protection, as well as public infrastructure, such as the power transmission networks and roads.

In addition to financing several ongoing private sector projects, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is implementing a large advisory program in the country.

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Ukraine Overview - worldbank.org

Ukraine Overview – World Bank

Economy

Recent Economic Developments

Economic growth remains modest due to the unfinished structural reform agenda and headwinds from the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Real GDP grew by 2.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first half of 2017, following growth of 2.3% in 2016. Although the resumption of growth is a positive development, it represents a weak recovery since it follows a cumulative 16% contraction in 2014 and 2015. Even key sectors exhibiting relative strength, such as manufacturing, trade services, and transport, continued to grow at a modest pace3.7, 3.5, and 4.4%, respectivelyin the first half of 2017, which is insufficient to drive stronger growth in the overall economy.

The mining and utility sectors contracted by 6.6 and 5.5%, respectively, due to the trade blockade against uncontrolled areas of the Donbas region, which affected coal, steel, and electricity production. On the other hand, construction and fixed investment continued to exhibit strong growth in the first half of 2017at 26 and 22%, respectivelypointing to strengthening investor confidence in some areas, although both remain down sharply from pre-crisis levels. Merchandise exports grew by 23% in the first half of 2017.

Fiscal expenditures and revenues grew strongly in the first half of 2017, with the supplementary budget adding to expenditure pressures for the rest of the year. In the first half of 2017, both expenditures and revenues exhibited strong growth. Expenditures were up by 13.5% in real terms due to the increase in the minimum wage (and resulting higher wages for teachers, doctors, and civil servants), as well as higher spending on social programs. Revenues also grew strongly by 22.8% in real terms in the first half of 2017, driven by higher revenues across the board, including personal, corporate, and value added tax, as well as social security contributions and non-tax revenues. As a result, the fiscal balance in the first half of 2017 amounted to a surplus of 0.9% of full-year GDP.

However, the supplementary budget adopted in July 2017 adds to expenditure pressures for the rest of the year, including higher spending on the military, social programs, and capital investment, leading to a fiscal deficit in 2017 that may exceed the target of 3% of GDP. At the same time, the public debt level continued to grow, reaching 85% of GDP as of July 2017 due to the high cost of bank recapitalization.

Economic Outlook

The growth projection for 2017 remains modest at 2%, but progress on the ambitious package of reforms under consideration could accelerate growth to 4% or more going forward. The growth outlook is affected by two key factors. First, Ukraine faces continued headwinds from the conflict in the Donbas region as evidenced by the coal and trade blockade with the uncontrolled areas. Second, the authorities have been working on an ambitious package of reforms to address structural bottlenecks and advance growth prospects. The next few months are a critical window of opportunity within which to lock in these important reforms.

Establishing a transparent market for land transactions would enable Ukraine to tap its vast potential for agricultural exports. Strengthening the governance of state-owned banks and introducing measures to streamline the resolution of nonperforming loans (NPLs) would enable a gradual resumption of lending to the private sector.

Deeper anti-corruption reforms, further improvements to the business environment, and progress on privatization would strengthen investor confidence and attract foreign investment. Locking in these reforms in the next few months could raise growth to 4% or more in the next two years, an outlook subject to serious risks, however, related to progress on reforms in a complex political environment and a possible escalation of the conflict or deterioration in the external environment.

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Ukraine Overview - World Bank

Kyiv travel – Lonely Planet

Highlights of Kiev Sightseeing Tour

The tour will start at 10am from the centrally located hotel or apartment of your stay in Kiev. Your guide will meet you at hotel lobby area on reception. The first part of your big tour will start with 3h city tour by private transport. You will know the most interesting places of Kiev and can expect to see them. Among them are: the Golden Gate, Vladimirskiy Cathedral, St. Michaels Square and St. Michael's Domed Monastery, Foundation Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytskiy, Security Head Office of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Pedagogical Museum, Red Building of the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kiev, Bessarabskiy Market, House of Chimeras, House of President of Ukraine, National Bank of Ukraine, Ukrainian House, National Philharmonic Society, Maidan Nezalezhnosti /Independence Square, Kievs Funicular, Post Office Square, St. Alexanders Catholic Church, Contract House, Fountain Samson, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,Holy Spirit Church, Clergy House, and Mariinskiy Park and Palace.Visit the the hill where St. Andrew's Church is situated. Here you will know about the history of the St. Andrews Decent and old town.Then your private guide will bring you at 1pm toview the hill of the Pechersk districtwhere Museum of World War II is situated. Here you will start another walking part of the tour to get familiar with territory of Museum.At 1:30pm enjoy lunch at an Ukrainian cuisine restaurant or cafe on your way. Lunch time is from 12pm - 4pm, except on weekends. The average price about $8US per person.Lastly, enjoy Kiev Pechersk Lavra Monastery while visiting the Near and Far caves. The Lavra, a large monastery with 28 hectares of land, got this title in 1688. Review the monastery constructions, galleries of the Near and Far Caves, possibility to visit in extra the Museum of Historic Treasures of Ukraine, Museumminiatures and other exhibits. In 1990 Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra Monastery was enlisted into the UNESCO's World Heritage List.Finally, you will go to the nearest Metro station where learn more about Kiev Metro lines and visit the deepest Metro Station in the World Arsenalna (105.5 meters (346 ft)). Tour ends after the 6-hour ride and you can return to your hotelby public transport, metro, taxi, or by bus to Downtown Independence Square called Maidan Nezalezhnosti and the guide will help you.

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Kyiv travel - Lonely Planet

Ukraine | MSF USA

Ukraine: Latest MSF Updates

This information is excerpted from MSFs 2016International Activity Report.

As the conflict in eastern Ukraine continued, those living on the front lines bore the brunt of the violence. Throughout 2016, MSF ran mobile clinics and increased psychological and medical support to people living in the areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, including those displaced by conflict.

MSF psychologists worked in 26 locations in the southern part of the conflict zone, providing 3,052 consultations for patients with acute or chronic stress. Many had lost relatives or friends in the conflict or had fled because their homes were damaged or destroyed. MSF held group sessions for the elderly and ensured treatment for people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In 2016, MSF conducted a total of 27,835 outpatient consultations.

MSF teams worked in 40 locations in and around Bakhmut and assisted more than 40,000 residents and 10,000 displaced people. In July, when the capacity of the local health system had improved, MSF withdrew from the area.

MSF also continued to support and treat prisoners with DR-TB in pre-detention centers in Mariupol and Bakhmut, and in the penal colony in Dnipro.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine has reduced since the February 15 ceasefire, halting more than a month of escalating violence. Despite the ceasefire, however, some areas still experience shelling. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues over the front line town of Debaltseve.

The conditions for civilians caught in the conflict zone are dire and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. We dont have plans for the future, says Alyona,a 24-year-old womanwho fled Debaltseve with her husband and two-year-old son. Concerned about the impact the conflict was having on her son, Alyona sought assistance from an MSF psychologist. It is difficult to have hope, she says. Everybody has been affected, mentally or physically. People had everything, [and] now my child is homeless.

For people on both sides of the front line, living conditionsare precarious. Residents face a severe shortage of basic needs, such as food and medication. Many medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the fighting, while doctors struggle to treat their patients with dwindling supplies.

Medical workers have been under intense strain for months on end dealing with thousands of wounded and displaced people, says Loc Jaeger, deputy head of mission for MSF in Ukraine.

MSF is responding by expanding its operations in the region. Aside from supporting doctors and medical facilities close to the fighting,MSF medical teams are providing basic health care and medicines to people close to the fighting, mainly through mobile clinics.

Mobile clinics are now operating in 25 locations in and around the front line, including rural areas outside Donetsk and Luhansk cities, in heavily affected towns such as Uglegorsk and Debaltseve, and to displaced people staying in Svyatogorsk.

We havent had a doctor in Uspenka for many months, says Lydia, a 65 year-old living in the Donetsk region. The previous doctor died before the conflict. So people had to go to Amvrosievka [approximately 14 miles away] if they needed to see a doctor. Now Dr Wael from MSF comes here and there are long queues to see him. Im very grateful to MSF, they help people here a lot.

MSF has also expanded its psychological support program, providing counseling to both individuals and groups affected by the violence in 30 locations.

As of March, more than one million people have been displaced by fighting in Ukraine, with over 600,000 seeking refuge in other countries. Many more have been trapped in front line towns, unable to escape due to heavy fighting. In Gorlovka, one of the hardest-hit cities on the front line, thousands of civilians were unable to flee the violence, with only one narrow and dangerous road leading out of the city.

Since January 13, when the most recent surge in violence began, directors of hospitals in Dontesk, Stakhanov, Pervomaisk, and Novoaidarall supported by MSFhave reported a drastic increase in wounded patients admitted for care, putting increased pressure on overburdened and under-supplied hospitals.

The intensification in fighting has only exacerbated the already acute shortage of essential medicines such as antibiotics, pain killers, and suture materials, says Jaeger.

MSF has been relieving pressure on these and seven other hospitals on both sides of the front line by providing much-needed supplies. Since the beginning of the conflict, MSF has providing supplies and medicine to treat almost 18,000 wounded patients, 14,400 chronic diseases, and 2,000 childbirths.

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Ukraine | MSF USA