Brussels, 26/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - To tackle the worsening crisis in eastern Ukraine, where 1.4 million people find themselves in a desperate humanitarian situation, the European Commission is pledging a further €15 million in humanitarian assistance to support the most vulnerable sections of the population. This announcement was made on Monday 26 January by Christos Stylianides, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, since the two-day visit he made to the country (see EUROPE 11236).
This financial assistance also contains material aid and will cover basic needs for those most in need in Marioupol and the other regions affected by the conflict, such as displaced persons, refugees and those returning home after having had to flee. Shelter, food, access to drinking water, health care and warm clothes will be provided to them.
Speaking in Kiev, before travelling to Dnepropetrovsk, the Commissioner explained, “I have come here to express, in person, the EU's solidarity with the Ukrainian people. I condemn the attacks in Marioupol, which have led to the losses of so many human lives. I urge those responsible for the escalation in violence to halt all hostilities… The European Union is there to help. The EU's assistance is for all Ukrainians affected by the conflict, including those in Russia and Belarus”.
85 tonnes of material aid by plane and road. Three cargo planes transporting tents, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes to help those most in need in the centre of the country, including the zones held by the rebels. Aid is also being channelled by lorry and is expected to reach eastern Ukraine on Monday during the daytime.
Transporting these goods is a result of the cooperation between several member states (Germany, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia), as well as the European Commission, through the civil protection mechanism. Close cooperation with humanitarian partners such as UNICEF and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has also proved crucial, explained the European Commission.
This new aid will bring the total contribution in emergency aid and early rehabilitation aid from the EU in response to this crisis, to €95 million. Up until now, the Commission has provided more than €32.5 million in aid, including €11 million in humanitarian aid (around 40% for zones that are not controlled by the government and €21.5 million for emergency preparations for winter and rehabilitation aid). The aid from member states stands at a total of more than €47 million. The crisis in eastern Ukraine has led to the displacement of 900,000 people and almost 600,000 refugees. (AN).