Hennadii Zubko: Humanitarian missions will facilitate most effectively the return of Ukraine's territories

"The Government of Switzerland and the Government of Ukraine are working very closely in different directions. These are decentralization issues, enhancing energy efficiency measures and humanitarian aid. In all these areas we have a very positive effect," said Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko during a briefing on the delivered humanitarian aid for Donetsk region from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

According to Hennadii Zubko, the governments of Ukraine and Switzerland jointly implemented the successful delivery of the humanitarian cargo to the uncontrolled territory of Ukraine: "Humanitarian aid was delivered to the municipal enterprise "Water of Donbas", which was provided with reagents. The company serves a large number of people - about 4.5 million receive water from the venture."

In addition, there has been developed a program for assistance to internally displaced persons on the territory of Ukraine and humanitarian cargoes, to be delivered soon.

"Such humanitarian assistance as this one serves another important function, apart from providing necessary technical and material support. Such aid contributes to the strengthening of pro-Ukrainian sentiment in these areas," considers the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine.

"After all, there reside Ukrainians who got in trouble, and Ukraine together with the international community is doing everything to help them", stressed Hennadii Zubko.

In his words, "humanitarian missions are considered to be an effective way to return the captured territories”.

The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked for this initiative to the Swiss government, informing that "humanitarian assistance for 2015-2017 from the Government of Switzerland to Ukraine has been increased up to 100 million dollars."

Vice-Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Delegate for humanitarian aid and head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit Manuel Bessler noted that previous Friday over 300 tons of reagents for water purification had been delivered to Donetsk.

"This mission was only possible due to the support of the office of the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, due to the coordination of all the participants who helped us in this process – these are the Government of Ukraine and the staff of the enterprise "Water of Donbas", he noted.

"I would like to announce that 15 trucks loaded with over 300 tons of chemicals were delivered to the company and the very next day they were applied for water treatment", said Manuel Bessler.

He informed that in mid-June it was planned "the second cargo to deliver another batch of reagents that will help to purify potable water".