Region Karpat “NEEKA”

In 1998, the International Foundation for Health and Environment Protection “Region Karpat” NEEKA was registered as an international charitable organization, forming partnerships with organizations in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and the Netherlands. Initially, NEEKA focused on supporting social programs for people with disabilities, children with cerebral palsy, Chernobyl rehabilitation efforts, and assistance for refugees and asylum seekers, alongside environmental protection initiatives.
By 2000, NEEKA became the UNHCR’s implementing partner, providing legal and psychosocial support to refugees and asylum seekers. In 2017, NEEKA launched the UNHCR’s pilot project “Protection of Stateless Persons and Those at Risk of Statelessness,” which continues successfully today.

Following the Russian military aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, NEEKA swiftly redirected its efforts to assist the most vulnerable among IDPs, with support from UNHCR and other partners across four regions—Zakarpattia, Lviv, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk. To optimize assistance delivery, regular coordination meetings have been held with state institutions, regional military administrations, local authorities, universities, border services, employment centers, and other public organizations.

In recent years, NEEKA has intensified its efforts to address the issue of statelessness. Through the ongoing UNHCR-supported project, NEEKA provides comprehensive legal assistance to individuals without citizenship and those at risk of statelessness, helping them secure documentation and legal recognition. The organization also conducts awareness-raising campaigns and outreach activities to inform affected communities about their rights and the steps they can take to resolve their status. NEEKA collaborates closely with local authorities, international partners, and civil society organizations to advocate for legislative reforms and ensure stateless individuals have access to education, healthcare, and social services. This work remains a vital part of NEEKA’s mission to promote inclusion and protect the rights of vulnerable populations.