An issue of assistance for the people in ATO area and internally displaced persons to be settled by Government jointly with European partners

posted 18 August 2014 16:59

Issues of assistance in resolving problems of internally displaced persons and helping people who remain in the zone of the anti-terrorist operations were discussed at a meeting of the Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Volodymyr Hroysman and Director for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, European Commission Jean-Louis de Brouwer.

On the results of their previous meeting, held on 30 July this year, the EU has already sent its experts with experience in the areas of solving issues of IDPs and the reconstruction of infrastructure of the ruined settlements to ready a joint action plan. The European Commission has also decided to send Eur 2.5 million to ensure the needs of residents of the East and those of the displaced persons.

Volodymyr Hroysman informed the member of the European Commission on the steps taken by the Government. In particular, he told that the Government had set up two state agencies, one of them is to deal with matters of internally displaced persons, the second – with reconstruction of Donbas. Now the issue of staff is on the agenda.

"We suggest that in these agencies the management team should include not only experts with significant management experience, but also the volunteers who seriously help in working with displaced persons," said the official.

Moreover, Volodymyr Hroysman and Jean-Louis de Brouwer discussed an opportunity to draw European experts who possess relevant experience in solving similar problems.

 It is planned to conduct joint work on attracting necessary financial resources to implement these plans. According to preliminary estimates by the UN, only to solve the most urgent problems of immigrants by the end of the year there will be need about USD 33 million.

My colleagues are already working on an issue of faster receiving by Ukraine of the allocated EU funds. But taking into account further assessments in early September it will possibly be decided to allocate additional financial assistance. These funds are planned to use to improve living and working conditions of both displaced persons and people living in the liberated territories. We also consider a possibility to provide assistance consisting of tents, heating appliances, building materials and other necessities," said Jean-Louis de Brouwer.

It is intended that other EU member states and donors will join efforts in solving problems of internally displaced persons and restoring live of the liberated settlements of the East of Ukraine.