Mariupol Reborn today begins the first stage of construction of dormitories for the residents of Mariupol with the significant support of the French government. The initial project will provide housing for 1,000 residents of Mariupol, about 360 families, in Dnipro.

The project is starting with a pilot to create living space for 35 families at the University of Agrarian Economics. The next step is to refurbish the dormitories of the Ukrainian State Scientific University and the Dnipro National University into social housing for Mariupol residents.

The goal is to give priority to families with children who were forced to leave their homes in Mariupol.

The mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko, said: "Tens of thousands of displaced persons from the temporarily occupied Mariupol were left without homes. That is why, on the instructions of the Head of the Donetsk OVA Pavlo Kyrylenka and reliable partners, we launched a unique project for Ukraine - YAMariupol Housing. The creation of the dormitories is the quickest way to provide families with housing. This pilot project has opened the door to international investment, and today we are already talking about the next stage: the creation of 360 rooms for Mariupol families."

The French government has a long-standing relationship with Mariupol. Before the full-scale invasion in February 2022, he was working with the city government to develop a new freshwater project. This support has now shifted to residential construction, and France has allocated €7 million to this initial project.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting the project by safeguarding the funds provided by the French government.

Konrad Klos, the IOM coordinator of the housing programme, said: "We plan to hand over the finished objects in full before the onset of winter. Financial support for the project is provided by the French government. As facilitators of the project, we are impressed by the level of cooperation between the city of Mariupol and the French government."

In Mariupol itself, more than 52,000 apartments were destroyed by Russia's actions.

A second round of funding from the French government will be used to improve the environment around the accommodation, with decorations and play areas for children. And the long-term goal is to convert the dormitories into self-contained apartments as soon as there is enough housing.

The Mariupol revival plan is supported by the SCM Group, owned by Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov. He said, "Mariupol has become a symbol of the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and a symbol of human tragedy. The russian invasion has destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of peaceful Mariupol residents. And it has ended the lives of far too many: one was too many. Therefore, now it is crucially important we do not leave people alone with their misfortune. That is why we must provide the people of Mariupol with homes, however temporary. And after the Ukrainian flag rises over Mariupol again, we will direct all our efforts to the regeneration of the city. We will build a new Mariupol, to which all Mariupol residents will want to return".