Ukraine and Azerbaijan continue to develop cooperation in the field of humanitarian support. Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev to discuss further areas of joint efforts aimed at supporting communities affected by the war.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russian troops, Azerbaijan has been actively supporting Ukraine by providing financial and humanitarian assistance. The main areas of support include the restoration of infrastructure and assistance to children in need of psychosocial rehabilitation. Thanks to the efforts of the Azerbaijani side, recreational and psychological support programmes have been organised for Ukrainian children from the frontline regions.

More than 200 Ukrainian children have already visited Azerbaijan to receive social and psychological assistance. This programme is aimed at stabilising their emotional state. It is planned that another 60 Ukrainian children will be able to take a recreation course in Azerbaijan in the near future.

“The war is affecting every corner of our country, but those near the frontline are suffering the most. Thousands of children from the frontline areas have become internally displaced, which has had a significant impact on their emotional state and health. The opportunity for children to travel abroad, feel calm, find emotional support and relax is invaluable. This assistance is not just a gesture of support, but a significant contribution to the mental and physical health of our children, which we must protect. We believe it is extremely important to continue cooperation in this area and express our gratitude to Azerbaijan for its willingness to continue to host Ukrainian children,” said Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed prospects for further partnership, in particular, new areas of cooperation and support. These include programmes to develop family-based care, social services, including resilience services, and prosthetics.

In his turn, Seymur Mardaliyev confirmed that Azerbaijan was ready to continue supporting Ukraine, in particular through the implementation of joint projects in the social sphere. He stressed the importance of an active partnership between the two countries, which would contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine and the creation of sustainable conditions for its future development and economic growth.