In the face of escalating violence in eastern Ukraine, the European Commission is to release a further €18 million in emergency humanitarian aid for vulnerable people who are victims of the conflict in Donbass. The funding was announced on Monday 20 February by European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides during his visit to Ukraine.
"Here today in Bakhmut, I want to tell the Ukrainian people: you are not alone. All civilians in need must be helped, on both sides of the contact line. Our new aid package will help humanitarian partners in eastern Ukraine to cover urgent medical, shelter, water and sanitation needs", Stylianides stated, calling for aid to reach all vulnerable people affected by the conflict "swiftly, safely and impartially".
The aid will be channelled through ECHO's partner organisations on the ground. Heavy fighting in the vicinity of Adviivka between 29 January and 5 February resulted in 17,000 residents being without water, electricity and heating for almost a week.
The crisis in eastern Ukraine has led to the displacement of around 2.8 million people. The EU and its member states have allocated around €399 million in humanitarian aid and in aid for reconstruction since the beginning of 2014. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)