Authors

Discussion

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine has grown exponentially. Prior to that, IDPs mainly came from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where hostilities had been taking place since 2014. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine caused an unprecedented scale of displacement of the Ukrainian population. In the first months of the war, the number of IDPs in Ukraine reached its peak of 8 million (21% of the total population). By the time of writing this paper, many people have already returned or moved abroad. As of April 2024, the number of displaced Ukrainians within national borders was estimated at around 3.5 million.

The problems of IDPs are commonly overlooked in the studies of forced migration. IDPs are often perceived as less vulnerable than refugees who seek protection by crossing the state borders of their home countries. IDPs belong to the country in which they seek protection - a condition that presumes their inclusion in the safety net provided by state welfare. Besides that, IDPs are not considered to face any real obstacles to social integration, as they are already part of the larger national community. The recent studies on IDPs in different countries, including Ukraine, have indicated different difficulties that IDPs face in the process of relocation and integration within host communities.

Food insecurity is among the main challenges faced by IDPs during their displacement and resettlement. In Ukraine, more than one in five IDP households are currently food insecure and rely heavily on social policy or humanitarian assistance programs, of which food aid and cash transfers are the most common. However, recent studies have shown that growing own food by displaced populations is the more sustainable way to ensure their food security and to promote cooperation and integration of displaced groups within host communities. 

This study aims at understanding food systems of IDPs in Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale war. It focuses on food supply, coping strategies, and integration of IDPs in rural communities. In contrast with other studies on IDPs’ food supply, this paper goes beyond the issues of food security (that primarily focus on food provision and nutrition intake) and applies the food sovereignty framework to understand the relations with land, community and agency in the food system through processes of displacement and resettlement. 

This study is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with IDPs, members of host communities, local food providers, activists and humanitarian actors. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the food systems of displaced populations, and to help develop the most efficient and sustainable way to provide food to IDPs in Ukraine and other war-torn countries.