The European Union will allocate another 8 million euros for humanitarian projects in Moldova for people affected by the war in Ukraine, assistance will increase to 66 million euros.
The European Commission announced this, noting that these funds are part of a new aid package worth 83 million euros, which are provided to Ukraine and Moldova as humanitarian aid to support people affected by the war in Ukraine. The EC notes that Russia's targeted attacks on key energy and civil infrastructure in Ukraine, such as hospitals, schools and power grids, are seriously hampering the population's access to basic services. With each new shelling, more Ukrainians are left homeless and in need of help and shelter in harsh winter conditions. With an estimated 14.6 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian assistance, the new funding comes at a particularly timely moment. Of the €83 million in humanitarian funding, €75 million is allocated to humanitarian projects in Ukraine to provide emergency assistance, including access to basic needs such as housing, protection services, clean water, education and healthcare. At the heart of the EU's humanitarian strategy in Ukraine today is the protection of people affected by war, especially those living near front-line zones. At the same time, 8 million euros are allocated for humanitarian projects in Moldova: providing targeted assistance to the most vulnerable groups of the population, including humanitarian cash assistance to meet basic needs, protection and health. European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said that over the past 2 years Russia has been waging an unjust and unjustified war against Ukraine and its people. “I appreciate the resilience and iron will of the Ukrainian people, but it is clear that as a result of the war, almost 40% of Ukrainians are dependent on humanitarian aid. To help the most vulnerable people affected by this war, the EU will also provide an initial humanitarian aid of €75 million to Ukraine and €8 million to Moldova in 2024. And we will continue to closely monitor evolving needs on the ground to respond to the most pressing humanitarian challenges. The EU's commitment to the Ukrainian people has never been stronger,” he said. Including the new funding announced today, the European Commission has allocated a total of €926 million for humanitarian assistance programs for civilians affected by the war in Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February 2022. Of these funds, €860 million has been allocated for humanitarian programs in Ukraine and 66 million euros to support refugees arriving in Moldova. In addition to humanitarian aid operations, the European Commission is coordinating the largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, delivering more than 140,000 tons of aid to Ukraine, including ambulances, fire trucks, medicines, construction materials, power generators and much more. For additional support in crisis situations, the EU has also deployed its own emergency stocks, rescEU, to send power generators, medical equipment, temporary shelters and specialized equipment to protect public health from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. // 20.02.2024 — InfoMarket
