EU steps up humanitarian assistance for Ukraine by €20 million
Brussels, 16 March 2016
€20 million in humanitarian
assistance for people in need in Ukraine and neighbouring
countries.
Today the European Commission is increasing its
humanitarian response to help people affected by the conflict in eastern
Ukraine, with a new humanitarian aid package worth €20 million. The
announcement comes as European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis
Management Christos Stylianides arrives in the
country for a visit from 16-18 March 2016.
"The EU remains as committed as ever to
supporting the Ukrainian people. Ukraine needs to stay high on our agenda.
Today we are announcing new support to help people affected by the conflict in
eastern Ukraine. The support will boost our on-going aid operations, reaching
the most vulnerable people both in government and non-government-held areas.
Despite the decrease in breaches to the ceasefire, the impact of the violence
on the civilian population remains a humanitarian concern. It is essential that
humanitarian aid gets to all vulnerable people affected by the conflict
swiftly, safely and impartially", European Commissioner Christos Stylianides said.
An estimated 3.1 million people are still in
need of assistance in Ukraine and neighbouring
countries. About 55% of the Commission's humanitarian assistance targets people
in need in non-government controlled areas.
The new funding brings the Commission's total
humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people hit by the conflict in Ukraine to
over €63 million, in addition to important bilateral assistance from a number
of EU Member States. Together with the funding provided directly by the Member
States, the EU as a whole has directed over €146 million of aid to those
affected by the conflict since early 2014.
Background
The European Commission provides humanitarian
assistance to the most vulnerable communities, irrespective of which area of
the conflict they live in or have fled to. The Commission is also assisting
Ukrainian refugees in Belarus and Russia through the national Red Cross Societies
in the respective countries. All EU humanitarian assistance is based solely on
the needs of the affected populations.
The EU has kept the humanitarian aspect of
conflict in Ukraine high on its agenda from the early days of the conflict. It
also stands ready to further increase its support depending on the humanitarian
situation. Despite the decrease in breaches to the ceasefire, the humanitarian
situation is challenging as the situation in Eastern Ukraine remains unstable
and volatile.
Humanitarian needs: Returnees, refugees and
internally displaced persons (IDPs) face shortages of essentials such as food,
medicine and health care, basic household items, clean water and shelter. Basic
services are not available in all areas as a result of damage to the
infrastructure, electricity grid and water supply systems.
Who benefits: The EU's humanitarian aid goes to
internally displaced people and to refugees who have fled the conflict areas,
as well as to returnees. EU humanitarian aid is often distributed in the form
of cash and vouchers, allowing maximum efficiency and preserving the dignity of
the affected people. The recipients can buy essential items at the local shops
and markets, thus supporting the local economy. About 55% of the Commission's
humanitarian assistance targets people in need in non-government controlled
areas.
Partners: Assistance is being delivered through
the Commission's humanitarian partner organisations,
including People In Need, ICRC, UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, Save the
Children, Danish Refugee Council, Caritas, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC),
Action Against Hunger (ACF), Première Urgence-Aide
Médicale Internationale
(PU-AMI), Handicap International (HI), Médecins
du Monde (MdM), and GOAL Global.
European Commission
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-841_en.htm