FEATURES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE RECOVERY OF DESTROYED AND DE-OCCUPIED COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The war has created new conditions of uncertainty, necessitating new approaches to meeting the needs of community residents: new forms of citizen support, new tasks, and the maximum mobilization of resources to ensure optimal socio-economic conditions locally, reorientation, restoration, and socio-economic development of affected communities. In these conditions, local authorities' communication regarding the restoration of destroyed and de-occupied communities must consider various factors, as the war is ongoing, and communities need to be rebuilt today. Communication between local authorities and the public during wartime differs from the communication process in peacetime. Primarily, it is crucial to consider all safety factors, the psychological and emotional state of community members, and the availability of resources to ensure the vital functions of the united territorial communities (UTCs). Therefore, the main objective of this research was to identify the features of local authorities' communication regarding the restoration of destroyed and de-occupied territorial communities. Among the main tasks of the study were to examine the key problematic points in the process of community restoration, the necessity of applying stabilization measures and their definition, the importance of psychological recovery of community members, and ensuring the staffing of local authorities. Attention should also be given to the formation of a secure environment in destroyed and de-occupied communities, which should be ensured through internal community communication strategies. The communication process of local authorities regarding the restoration of destroyed and de-occupied communities encompasses several directions: first, interaction with central authorities concerning strategic plans for the restoration, rebuilding, and financing of affected communities; second, ongoing dialogue with members of affected communities for collaboration, development, and the creation of a safe environment; third, a highly important direction – cooperation with international organizations that can assist the communities in the recovery process. We consider that to ensure effective communication between local authorities and the public regarding the restoration of destroyed and de-occupied communities, three main mechanisms are necessary: studying the internal environment, resource mobilization, and the use of innovations. These mechanisms enhance the flexibility of local governance, enabling a quicker adaptation to the ever-changing conditions of wartime.

Keywords

• communication, recovery, community, stabilization measures, de-occupation